310 BRITISH BI1WS 



reddish white in ground-colour, spotted and speckled with dusky 

 brown. 



The sandpiper utters on the wing a clear musical note, thrice 

 repeated ; and in the pairing season the male has a trilling note, or 

 song, emitted while hovering in the air. Both old and young birds 

 are able to swim with ease, and, to escape danger, dive as readily 

 as a moorhen or water-rail. 



Green Sandpiper. 

 Helodromus ochropus. 



Upper parts olive-brown glossed with green and spotted with 

 white and dusky ; under parts white ; tail white, the central 

 feathers barred with black. Length, nine and a quarter inches. 



The green sandpiper, like many other members of its family, is 

 a visitor to the British Islands after the breeding season. This 

 species differs from others in coming earlier and departing later. 

 Half a century ago it was observed in Norfolk that the green sand- 

 piper was to be met with during nearly every month in the year. 

 The discovery was made later that it differs from other sandpipers 

 in breeding in trees, in old nests of other birds, in squirrels' dreys, 

 and on mossy trunks and branches. On account of this singular 

 habit its nest is rarely found ; but that it has bred, and does breed, 

 in this country scarcely admits of a doubt. 



In continental Europe it is known to breed in Scandinavia, 

 North and Central Russia, and North Germany. The eggs are four 

 in number, pale greyish green in ground-colour, with small purple- 

 brown spots and markings. 



The green sandpiper frequents inland watercourses and swamps 

 in wooded districts, and is excessively shy and wary in its habits ; 

 it flies rapidly, and utters when on the wing its shrill, piping note, 

 thrice repeated. 



Redshank. 



Totanus calidris. 



Su lamer plumage : upper parts pale brown closely streaked and 

 barred with umber; secondaries nearly white ; rump white, with 

 a few dusky flecks ; tail-feathers white barred with blackish ; under 



