AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 91 



have visited, from Malaga to Cyprus ; I have some 

 reason to believe, but no tangible proof, that it 

 breeds in this last-named island. For an account of 

 the nest and eggs I must again refer my readers to 

 Yarrell. In habits the Wood Sandpiper resembles 

 the bird last described, but in my experience is more 

 given to perching on bushes and rails than even the 

 Common Sandpiper, though I cannot look upon its 

 English name otherwise than as a fantastic misnomer. 



157. COMMON REDSHANK. 



Totaniis calidris. 



This well-known bird appears singly, or in small 

 numbers, in our valley at both seasons of migration, 

 more commonly perhaps in August than any other 

 month, a few always visit our meadows in March and 

 early in April, and I am acquainted with one instance 

 of its occurrence near Lilford in January. I am not 

 aware that the Redshank now breeds along the 

 course of the Nen above Peterborough, though it is 

 more than probable that this may be the case ; that 

 it did so formerly I was assured by the Rev. M. 

 Berkeley, who in a letter addressed to me in February 

 1876, wrote as follows : — " The Redshank builds at 

 Apethorpe occasionally " ; in a letter written a few 

 days subsequently, he stated, "The Redshank built 

 in one of the wild fields between Apethorpe and 

 old Sulehay : I have seen tame specimens running 

 about at Apethorpe, taken from the nest." 



Since the writing of the above paragraph I have 

 been assured, on excellent authority, that Redshanks 

 still frequent the meadows in the neighbourhood of 



