GREEN SANDPIPER. 215 



occurs generally about the first week in May, when 

 our own residents are occupied with their first sitting of 

 eggs. 



A specimen killed at Yarmouth, in April, 1862, and 

 which is still, I believe, in Captain Longe's possession, 

 was at first mistaken,* from the light colour of its legs 

 and certain peculiarities of plumage, for the yellow- 

 shanked sandpiper (Totanus flavipes) , but on comparison 

 with skins of the latter bird from America, it proved to 

 be only T. calidris in an immature and somewhat ex- 

 ceptional state, and I have since met with a similar 

 example. 



As an article for the table, the redshank is of but 

 little repute at the present day, being sold by the 

 gunners for about two shillings a dozen ; and even Sir 

 Thomas Browne alludes to it as "of common food, 

 but no dainty dish." The numerous entries, however, 

 of this species, in the L'Estrange accounts, together 

 with plover, spowes, and other shore-birds, show that 

 they were generally eaten at that time; and in the 

 Northumberland " Household Book " they are ordered 

 "to be bought at Princypall Feestes for my Lordes 

 owne Mees after j d - ob. [three half-pence] the pece." 



TOTANUS OCHROPUS 



GKEEN SA1STDPIPEE. 



The question as to the breeding of the Green Sand- 

 piper in England is still a disputed point amongst British 

 ornithologists, but as soon might we expect an English 



* I have an impression, although I cannot now find the refer- 

 ence, that this bird was recorded at the time, in the " Field," as the 

 true Totanus flavipes. 



