GRALLATORES. 263 



Genus ACTITIS, Illiger. 



At least two species of this form are known, one inhabiting 

 America, the other the Old World. 



Sp. 528. ACTITIS HYPOLEUCOS. 



Common Sandpiper. 



Tringa minor, Ray, Syn., p. 108, A. 6. 



hypoleucos, Linn. Syst. Nat., torn. i. p. 250. 



leucoptera, Pall. 



Actitis hypoleucos, 111. Prod. Syst. Mamm. et Av., p. 262. 



Totanus hypoleucos, Temm. Man. d'Orn., 2nd edit., torn. i. p. 657, et 



torn. iv. p. 419. 

 Tringoides hypoleucos, Gray, Cat. of Gen. and Subgen. of Birds in Brit. 



Mus., p. 117. 

 Actites hypoleucus. Bias. List of Birds of Eur. (Engl. Edit.), p. 18. 

 Actitis empusa, Gould in Proc. of Zool, Soc, part xv. p. 222. 

 Green Sandpiper, Colonists of Port Essington. 



Actitis empusa, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. pi. 35. 



Although I have seen specimens of this bird from every 

 colony, with the exception of that on the north coast, I am 

 unable to say in which it is most plentiful, or in which it may 

 be sought for at any given period with the certainty of finding 

 it. I did not meet with it myself in any of my various 

 wanderings, but Gilbert observed it both at Swan River and 

 at Port Essington. When speaking of Swan River, he says, 

 " I only saw this species once. When near the entrance of 

 the Swan, I noticed it flitting from rock to rock, and every 

 time it rested on its feet the tail was constantly moved up 

 and down with a shaking motion." On referring to the Port 

 Essington specimens, he remarks, " Although solitary in its 

 habits, I have seen three or four together ; they were mostly 

 observed inhabiting the beds of mangroves, over the roots of 

 which, just above the water, they were very actively engaged 

 in searching for their food, the tail being in constant motion : 



