118 COMMON SANDPIPER. 



June. After moult, the male resembles the female, but is larger. 

 Face feathered, and no ruff and head- tufts ; upper parts dark 

 brown, with buff margins ; neck and breast buff ; other under 

 parts dull white. Young, well margined with buff on upper 

 parts. 



Language. A low " tu-whit." 



Habits. Polygamous, fighting most desperately for the hens. 

 Nowadays we see the Ruff only in its winter plumage, and 

 generally in small flocks, on our coasts. Flight rapid. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, worms, small Crustacea and 

 mollusca, and vegetable substances. 



Nidification. Breeds in Europe. 



COMMON SANDPIPER OR SUMMER SNIPE 

 ( Totanus hypoleucus) . 



Migrant; April to September. Fairly common, breeding 

 pretty abundantly in Wales, northern England, and in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. Breeds also in other districts, though less 

 commonly. 



Haunts. Gravelly margins of lakes, swiftly running moun- 

 tain-streams, &c. 



Plumage. Upper parts bronze-brown, flecked and minutely 

 barred with umber-brown. Three outer pairs of tail-feathers 

 well tipped with white (conspicuous in flight) and barred with 

 black. Chin and under parts white ; neck and breast pale ash, 

 streaked with dusky. Bill dark brown, lighter at base. Stilt- 

 like legs and feet greenish grey. Length 8 in. Female, 

 rather smaller and less well-marked. In winter, upper parts 

 more uniform in colour. Young, upper parts margined with 

 buff, and no dark streaks on throat. Nestling : hair-brown 

 above, with black stripe through eye, and another from bill 

 over head and down centre of back ; dingy white below ; legs 

 and feet greenish. 



Language. A pleasant, melodious, tremulous whistle, like 

 " wheet." 



Habits. Restless, always running nimbly along the margin 

 of some stream, or flying rapidly from one point to another. 

 It swims and dives well. If neither flying, running, nor 

 swimming, it stands bobbing its head and jerking its stumpy 

 tail at intervals. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, worms, small Crustacea, &c. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. On shingle and unconcealed, or among grass or rushes 

 at the water's edge. 



Materials. A little moss and a few dead grasses or leaves. 



Eggs. Four. Reddish buff or yellowish white spotted and 



