410 BANFFSHIRE FA UNA. APPENDIX. 



easily approached. Their call-note at once distinguishes them 

 from the curlew. 



TOTANUS CALIDRIS [Redshank}. 



We have this red and long-legged gentleman rather sparingly with 

 us, but we have him all the year. There are certain spots coast- 

 wise not much frequented, where, for seven or eight months in 

 the year, you will seldom if ever fail to meet with a few ; and 

 when disturbed their wild scream accords well with the solitary 

 places which they frequent, especially where there is a low 

 hollow murmuring from the ocean. This is another species, 

 which, lapwing-like, will flap about you when in the way of their 

 nest, and for noise they exceed them completely. They gener- 

 ally breed in marshy and boggy places and about the grassy 

 margins of lochs, but I have also found them amongst bents 

 and dry sandy places by the sea-shore. 



TOTANUS HYPOLETTCOS [Common Sandpiper], 



The common sandpiper (or, as we have it, " Kittie-needie," from 

 its cry) is one of our summer birds ; there is scarcely one of our 

 streams but has its " kittie-needies " in the season. They breed 

 on the banks. 



TOTANUS GLOTTIS [GreenshanTc]. 



This is a rarity with us. I have one in my possession, out of two 

 which were shot in the moss of Banff. 



KECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA [Avocet]. More rare than the preceding. 



LIMOSA MELANURA [BlacTctailed Godwit"}. 

 Only two specimens have been taken here. 



LIMOSA RUFA [Bartailed Godwit]. 



A few of these may generally be observed every autumn, either by 

 the sea-side or in our mosses. They do not stop long with us ; 

 a few days at most sufficing. Perhaps we have not suitable 

 localities for them. 



MACHETES PUGNAX [Ruff~\. 



Bare. Three, I think, have been obtained, all birds of the year, 

 and all in autumn. 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA 



Though a pair or two have been known to breed, the woodcock 

 can hardly rank with us but as a winter visitor. In some 

 seasons they are more numerous than in others. Does the snow 

 affect the colouring of this species ? My reason for asking this 

 question is because, in very severe and snowy weather, I have 

 seen many of them of a remarkably light colour ; but in milder 

 seasons, and when there were little or no storms or frost, I have 

 never seen any of them with the same gray-like coating. 



SCOLOPAX GALLINAGO [Common Snipe]. 



Though many of these breed and remain with us all the year, still 



. we receive great additions annually from elsewhere, and gene- 



rally towards the end of autumn ; but neither during summer 



