SCOLOPACID.E. 



595 



THE GREEN SANDPIPER. 



ToTAXUs oCHROPUS (LinricTus). 



The Green Sandpiper is not uncommon on the spring as well as on 

 the autumnal migration in many parts of England and Wales, where 

 it is sometimes met with in the depth of winter, continuing in good 

 condition when Snipes are lean. It is, indeed, seldom absent from 

 some of our streams except during June and July, while even in 

 those months single birds, pairs or small parties have been noticed, 

 especially in Sussex, Norfolk and Yorkshire ; and since the fact has 

 been made known that it habitually lays its eggs in old nests in trees, 

 there appears to be considerable probability— though as yet no 

 proof — that it may occasionally breed with us. On the east side 

 of Scotland it is of fairly frequent occurrence, but in the north it 

 is very rare, while its presence in the island groups has not yet been 

 recorded, and it is seldom met with on the west coast, except in 

 the Solway district. To Ireland its visits are unfrequent, even in 

 autumn. 



This species is found nesting in marshy woods, from the vicinity 

 of the Arctic circle southward to Central Russia, Poland and (Ger- 

 many, and reaching as far west as Holstein ; while over the rest of the 

 Continent it is well known as a migrant, and I have an adult female 

 from Malaga, in the south of Spain, shot as late as June 24th. 

 From autumn to spring it is abundant in suitable localities from 

 Morocco to Egypt ; and, though not traced beyond Angola on the 

 west side of Africa, it ascends the Nile valley to Abyssinia, con- 



