D112 TRINGA TEMMINCKI. 
sitting down close to the nest we caught several cocks with our hands, when 
they would again seat themselves on the eggs.” Of the two clutches of eggs 
which I chose, one is of normal appearance, the other remarkable for being con- 
spicuously undercoloured, though a single one of its eggs bears a large dark 
blotch on one side. ‘This very peculiar-looking specimen was noticed by both 
the collectors, Herr Schaanning writing to me, on the 2nd of January, 1904, 
that he remembered it well. It was taken by a little water-pool, where there 
were also two pairs of Phalaropus fulicarius and a pair of Cygnus bewicki 
breeding. These two collectors were menibers of the Norwegian Government 
Expedition, which, under the direction of Prof. Birkeland, wintered in Nova 
Zembla for the purpose of making observations on the Northern Lights; and 
most of the instruments used being automatic, they had plenty of time for natural 
history pursuits. They were exceptionally fortunate in that the summer of 1903 
proved to be a great season for Lemmings, and consequently many kinds of 
predaceous birds abounded. } 
TRINGA TEMMINCKI, Leisler. 
TEMMINCK’S STINT. 
I have found it breeding in several localities north of the Bothnian 
Gulf; but it is scarce, and, as far as I have seen, confined to a few 
favourite spots. Grassy banks and pastures by the waterside are the 
kind of places where it takes up its breeding-quarters, and it seems 
to delight to be near houses. 
Nothing can be more interesting or pretty than this little bird in 
the early part of the summer. It isso tame that one could often 
catch it in a net at the end of a stick. At one time it is hovering 
with it wings raised over its back, or floating about, and it reminds 
one rather of some insect than of any other bird. At another time 
it may be standing on the top of a stone, or stake, or the gable end 
of a cottage; and, whether hovering or standing on its perch, it 
makes a constant trilling, of which I can best give an idea by saying 
that it brought to my recollection the Grasshopper- Warbler, though 
the resemblance is perhaps slight. When its eggs are very near, 
it sometimes runs about one’s feet ; and though it cannot but be 
anxious, it seems as busy as ever picking gnats and other insects off 
the grass. One nest I found was a short stone’s throw from a 
cottage where children were playing about in all directions; another 
was only a pace or two from a spring, from which women drew 
water every day and passers-by often stopped to drink. 
