10 



I think the state of plumage of these birds should be examined ; 

 it is not stated whether they are old or young, I think the old 

 birds of the Common Sandpiper leave us as soon as ever they have 

 reared their young, and previous to moulting ; at least I never 

 saw one in the moult. The young leave the inland streams early 

 in July, coming on to the coast for a few days, sometimes two or 

 three together, and then suddenly disappear, except stragglers- 

 I have seen one occasionally as late as October, but all these late 

 birds are young of the year. Now in August it seems probable 

 the old birds would have cast some of their quills, and be quite 

 incapable of taking any such flight as across the Atlantic ; and 

 the Spotted Sandpiper does not, I believe, go to the far north, as 

 several of the American Sandpipers which occasionally visit us 

 do ; and it is more likely these birds reach us along the shore, 

 taking from some accidental cause the European for the American 

 continent, and, having once made the mistake, come straight on. 

 The circumstances of these two species correspond with the Wood- 

 cocks of the two named tracts of country. Another most un- 

 likely part of the whole business is that two should have been 

 together, as this tribe of Sandpipers are generally solitary in their 

 habits except at breeding time. If it is suggested they started 

 together to cross the Atlantic, it is even a marvel of bird travel- 

 ling that they should have been able to keep company for such a 

 distance, and I must say I cannot believe it. 



Two of the very limited number of the British Buff -breasted 

 Sandpipers are recorded by Yarrel and others as having been ob- 

 tained at different times by one man. This appears remarkable. 

 After long experience, one can nearly judge from a British 

 Sandpiper's appearance to a few weeks of the season it was pro- 

 cured. It would be satisfactory if some experienced naturalist 

 would go further into this, and examine the two birds, and give 

 his opinion whether their plumage corresponds with the different 

 seasons they were said to have been be killed. This might be 

 done perhaps by comparing them with skins from America in the 

 different states of plumage that is, the young bird after being 

 fledged, the winter plumage, and that of summer and to trace 

 if the changes corresponded with the dates of reputed capture. 



