GRALLATOEES. 177 



few in December and January. It is somewhat sin- 

 gular that this bird, though remaining with us during 

 so many months in the year, should never have 

 been discovered breeding here. Mr. Wheelwright, 

 the only Englishman, I believe, with the exception 

 of the late Mr. WoUey, who has taken the eggs of 

 the Green Sandpiper, says that a peculiarity in its 

 breeding habits is, that instead of nesting on the 

 ground like other waders, it makes use of the de- 

 serted nest of some other bird, and frequently lays 

 its eggs at a considerable height from the ground. 



This fact not being generally known may, per- 

 haps, account for the eggs never having been taken 

 in England. The search may always have been 

 made in a wrong direction. 



Wood Sandpiper, Totanus glareola. I am in- 

 clined to think that the Wood Sandpiper is not so 

 rare a bird as is generally supposed ; so few persons 

 are acquainted with its specific distinction, that it is 

 probably often mistaken for the Green Sandpiper, 

 and on that account it may be well to point out here 

 in what respects it differs from that bird. 



It is rather smaller in size, has proportionately 

 a shorter bill and longer tarsus ; the legs are lighter 

 in colour, and it has not the white markings under 

 the wings which are conspicuous in the Green Sand- 

 piper. A marked difference, also, exists in the tail- 

 feathers. In the Green Sandpiper the tail is, for 

 the greater part, white ; the outside feather on each 



