G40 SCOLOPACID.E. 



grassy morasses and swamps in small colonics, generally in 

 the same places as those frequented by the Totamis glareola, 

 our Wood Sandpiper. It breeds also at Fogstuen on the 

 Dovrc Fi-eld mountains, about three thousand feet above the 

 level of the sea, in Norway, where it arrives at the latter end 

 of May. On its first appearance it is wild and shy, and 

 similar in its habits to the other species of the genus, feeding 

 on the grassy borders of the small pools and lakes in the mo- 

 rasses. On being disturbed it soars to a great height in the 

 air, rising and falling suddenly like the Snipe, uttering the 

 notes too who, which are rapidly repeated. As the weather 

 becomes warm, its habits totally change, skulking and creep- 

 ing through the dead grass, and allowing itself to be followed 

 within a few yards, and when flushed, dropping again a short 

 distance off. It seems to lay its eggs later than others of 

 this tribe generally. I found the eggs not sat upon on the 

 24th of June, and the last week in July the young were un- 

 able to fly ; a period when all the other Sandpipers are on the 

 move south. The eggs were of a deep chocolate colour, and 

 its nest, like that of the Snipe, was on a hummocky tuft of 

 grass. Although I found the young only half fledged the 

 last week in July, and hunted the morasses very carefully, I 

 never flushed or saw a single old bird, yet undoubtedly they 

 must have been there, so difficult is it at that period to get 

 them on the wing, and so entirely different from their habits 

 in the spring. They are said by M. Nilsson to be rare visi- 

 tants to Scandinavia, but they are undoubtedly numerously 

 disposed, but from their very small size and hidling habits, 

 are difficult to be discovered, added to the almost impassable 

 nature of the swamps they frequent. There were several 

 small colonics of them in different parts of the extensive 

 swamp at Fogstuen ; I procured five specimens there, and 

 might have obtained as many more, had I desired it ; I also 

 procured one nest with four eggs in it. 



