66 BRITISH BIRDS 



barred black. Young birds resemble the adults in winter 

 plumage, but have a buff tinge. The rarer and smaller 

 curlew-sandpiper (8 in.), which has also bay on the head and 

 under-parts in summer, may always be distinguished by the 

 slightly down-curved beak. See also god wit (No. 136). 



132. Sanderling [Caledris leucophwa (Pallas) ; Calidris 

 arenaria (Linnaeus)]. Plentiful on our shores in the autumn, 

 but most pass south to winter. 



Bird. Length 8 in. See No. 129. Distinguished by the 

 absence of the hind toe. In spring or breeding plumage it has 

 the upper-parts with the head, neck, and forebreast mostly 

 rufous streaked black. Lower breast and belly white. After 

 the autumn moult the upper-parts are mostly ash-grey with 

 darker striations, the neck and under-parts white. Some 

 individuals seem almost wholly white. The immature birds, 

 which are very numerous, may be distinguished by the much 

 darker upper-parts, the mantle being chiefly mottled black 

 and white, with some buff on the wing -coverts and neck. 



133. Common-sandpiper [Tringa hypoleuca Linnaeus ; 

 Totanus hypoleucus (Linnaeus)]. Summer visitor to inland 

 lakes and rivers, chiefly in hilly districts. Rare in the S.E. 

 counties. Bird of passage. 



Bird. Length 8 in. Recognised in breeding plumage by 

 the bronze-brown upper-parts, minutely 

 flecked, barred, and striated with umber- 

 brown, and the white under-parts with 

 dusky streaks on the neck and forebreast. 

 A white bar on the extended wing. Tail 

 white at end and sides. Legs yellowish. 

 After the autumn moult the umber- 

 brown markings almost disappear, leaving 

 the upper-parts a more uniform colour. 

 Nest. Usually on the ground among 



shingle or herbage near a stream or lake-side. Lined with 



dry grasses or other material. 



Eggs. Usually 4. Pear-shaped. Buff spotted with brown, 



and underlying ash-grey. Av. size, 1*4 x T01 in. Laying 



begins in May. One brood. 



134. Green-sandpiper [Tringa ocrophus Linnaeus ; Totanus 

 ocrophus (Linnaeus)]. Winter visitor and bird of passage. 

 Scarce on W. and N. coasts of Scotland, and in Ireland. Not 

 proved to breed in British Isles. 



Bird. Length 9J in. Distinguished from the preceding by 

 the greenish upper-parts, mostly marked with small whitish 

 spots (buff in the young), by the white upper tail-coverts, and 

 the dusky under-surface of the wing. Under-parts white with 



