4 SCOLOPACID.f:. 



considerably grown. We then strolled through the heather and found a Curlew's 

 nest, with its full complement of eggs : these were also considerably incubated. 

 We continued our ramble on the heather, when about three o'clock our dogs, a 

 retriever and a setter, raised a bird about fifty yards in advance of us, which at 

 once rose to a considerable height coursing about, rising and sinking somewhat in 

 the manner of the Snipe, and like it, while sweeping downwards with outstretched 

 tremulous wings, produced a peculiar drumming noise, but one much shriller than 

 that of the Snipe, and almost amounting to a sort of musical whistle. From the 

 strangeness of its actions and peculiar whistling or drumming noise, I was 

 convinced that Ave had met with a rare bird, and that its nest was near at hand. 

 I observed to my companions that it was either a Wood- or a Green Sandpiper, 

 and that we must have its nest before we left the Car. I had just uttered these 

 words when one of the dogs rushed forward and pushed its nose into the heather. 

 Mr. Reay advanced, and, on examining the spot, said ' Here's the nest vnth four 

 eggs, but they are all smashed excepting one.' A moment, however, sufficed to 

 prove that the nest was that of a Snipe, though there was at first some difference 

 of opinion expressed as to this. Nevertheless, I was quite satisfied that the nest 

 of the strange bird was yet to be found. The dogs were now leashed. The birds 

 were still in view flying about : our only chance now was to watch the bird to its 

 nest. With a view to this I concealed myself amidst the heather, while my 

 companions left the spot. It was not long before one of the birds ' pitched,' and, 

 after allowing a little time for it to settle, I went forth to raise it, but did not 

 succeed. The bird, however, was soon in the air again, flying about as before. 

 The watching dodge was again tried, and this time the bird was marked to, and 

 raised from, its nest. There lay the nest, with its four pretty eggs, on the side of 

 a dry hillock where grew some heath and grass, in the midst of a swampy spot. 

 It Avas evidently the nest of the Wood-Sandpiper, as the eggs agreed exactly with 

 those of that species which I had, in my collection, from the late Mr. Hoy. 

 Indeed, Ave got so near to the bii-d that it Avas not difficult to determine the 

 species. But it Avas, notAvithstanding, desirable to authenticate the eggs, so as to 

 leave no room for doubt. We noAv made several vain endeavours to shoot the 

 bird ; and then, to give it time to settle, left the spot, and wandered, for about 

 half an hour, to the west side of the heather, the nest being situated at the east 

 of it. But, previously to our doing so, Mr. Reay strayed Avith me in tlie direction 

 of the spot where I had at first lain concealed to mark the bird to its nest, and 

 Avhen Ave arrived Avithin a few paces of the spot a Shoveller rose, and there, 

 amidst the heather, Avas its nest containing eight eggs. On the return of our 

 party toAvards the nesting-place of the Wood-Sandpiper we raised a Reeve, which 



