THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 495 



286. Common Sandpiper [KLEINER WASSEKLAUFER]. 

 TOTANUS HYPOLEUCOS, Linn. 



Heligolandish : Soaltpieper = Saltpiper. 



Actitis hypoleucos. Naumann, viii. 7. 

 Common Sandpiper. Dresser, viii. 127. 

 Chevalier guignette. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 657, vi. 419. 



This lively little bird, which is of somewhat smaller size than 

 the preceding species, visits Heligoland in greater number than 

 any of its congeners ; it displays a greater liking for society 

 than some of its near relatives. Of the latter, one meets almost 

 invariably only solitary individuals ; whereas, the present species 

 occurs in bands of ten, twenty, or more individuals, which disport 

 themselves in a most lively and pleasing manner upon the stones 

 in the shallow water at the foot of the cliff. If disturbed or 

 flushed, as happens, for instance, if any one looks down on them 

 over the edge of the cliff, the whole company take to their wings 

 with merry pipings, the birds keeping very close to each other, and 

 flying in a moderate curve, quite low above the surface of the water, 

 to some other similar spot. If a stone is thrown after them while 

 thus engaged, and happens to fall into the water with a loud splash 

 close to or in the midst of the birds, the whole flock takes alarm 

 and instantly dives beneath the water, but reappears after a moment 

 or so, and flies away. 



The nesting quarters of this small Sandpiper extend from 

 Portugal to Kamtschatka ; it breeds in Scandinavia, Finland, and 

 throughout the whole of Asia up to the Arctic Ocean. 



287. Spotted Sandpiper [GEFLECKTER WASSERLAUFER]. 

 TOTANUS MACULAKIUS, Temminck. 1 



Actitis macularia. Naumann, viii. 34. 



Spotted Sandpiper. Seebohm, British Birds, v. 122. 



Chevalier perle. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 656, iv. 417. 



In about the latter half of the thirties Hans Tonnies, a gunner 

 whose name has been already mentioned in connection with the 

 Slender-billed Curlew, shot during the month of May, by a small 

 pond on the Upper Plateau, what was described as a ' Soaltpieper ' 

 (Totanus hypoleucos), ' quite similar to the common species, but 

 having a small round black spot upon each of the white feathers of 



1 Totanus macularius (Linn.). 



