TOTANUS OCHROPUS 329 



Description.— kdnli male, sprino-, froMi Gafsa, South Tunisia. 



Upper plumnge chiefly greenish-brown, with metallic renections, streaked 

 with white on the crown and neck, and spotted with white elsewhere ; quills 

 dark brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts white ; base of the tail and outer- 

 most tail-feathers white ; the remainder barred broadly with greeuish-brown ; 

 under parts white, the throat and upper-breast striped with greenish-brown ; 

 axillaries dark brown, narrowly barreil with white. 



Iris brown ; bill and feet greenish-black. 



Total length 950 inches, wing 5'50, culmen 1-50, tarsus 1'50. 



Adult female resembles the male. 



The Green Sandpiper is not uncommon in Tunisia during the 

 winter and periods of migration, though more abundant in spring 

 than at any other season. I liave met with it in March and April 

 in various localities, and frequently in desolate spots far inland, 

 where some pool of water may still be found in an arid mountain 

 gorge, or in the sandy bed of a water-course. 



The species is to be met with in suitable localities in winter in 

 Algeria, Marocco and Tripoli, in the latter of which countries Dr. 

 Koenig found it abundant at the end of March. 



Its range, like that of the preceding species, is very extensive, for 

 it inhabits Europe generally, as far north as the Arctic circle, 

 migrating southwards in winter, through Africa, as far as Cape 

 Colony, while it occurs throughout a considerable portion of Asia, and 

 in North America appears to have been met with occasionally in 

 Nova Scotia. 



The Green Sandpiper is generally to be found on inland waters, 

 its favourite haunts being secluded ponds and the banks of quiet 

 streams, and it is seldom to be met with on the sea shore, even when 

 migrating. It is solitary and unsociable in its disposition, being 

 chiefly found singly or in pairs, and is very shy and wary, taking 

 wing on the slightest indication of danger. Its flight is swift and 

 powerful, and it utters a shrill crj' of alarm. Its food is composed 

 mainly of worms, nisects and their larvae. 



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