5S6 SCOLOPACID.E. 



riance, witli stunted bushes of alder and willow. These situ- 

 ations are the favourite haunt of this Sandpiper during the 

 breeding season. While the hen bird is sitting, the male 

 flies round in wide circles, and at a considerable elevation. 

 The female sits close ; and the nest is extremely difficult 

 to find. 



If you approach the spot when they have young, and es- 

 pecially if a dog is with you, the old birds Avill fly round in 

 the most anxious manner, and will hover over the dog within 

 a few feet ; then suddenly darting off, mount high in the air, 

 pouncing down again with great rapidity on the intruder. 

 If you have observed the actions and manoeuvres of the Red- 

 shank, during the breeding season, you will have seen very 

 much the habits of the Wood Sandpiper. 



It is far from being numerous in the localities where I met 

 with it ; yet many pairs are dispersed over these districts, 

 where they have long been known to breed, from information 

 which I obtained from several intelligent sportsmen, to whom 

 the bird was well known. 



Although I met with the young in a downy state, and 

 partially feathered, I only obtained one nest with eggs. The 

 nest is generally placed at a short distance from the water, 

 among stunted heath, or scrubby plants of the bog myrtle, or 

 among coarse grass and rushes. It is placed in a hollow, and 

 is formed of dry grass and other plants. The eggs are four 

 in number. An egg is figured by Mr. Hewitson in his 

 work. One egg of the Wood Sandpiper in my own col- 

 lection measures one inch seven lines in length, by one inch 

 and half a line in breadth ; pointed in shape, of a pale green- 

 ish white, spotted and speckled particularly over the broad 

 end with dark reddish brown. This rare egg was given me 

 by Richard Dann, Esq., who obtained two or three in Nor- 

 way, with the eggs of some other very rare birds to be here- 

 after referred to. 



