206 Order XIII 



deeper markings. In winter this species resembles a 

 miniature Common Sandpiper (p. 210). It is rather rare 

 in Britain, occurring on passage in autumn and spring, 

 chiefly in the south-east and south of England ; but 

 it breeds much nearer our shores than the Little Stint, 

 in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Russia, and Siberia, the 

 first eggs known having been taken at the head of the 

 Baltic. They are rather longer and paler than those 

 of the last-named, and the nest, placed in marsh 

 growth, is somewhat more substantial. The note is 

 sharp or at times of a trilling nature, while the bird 

 is much given to hovering in the air near its breeding- 

 quarters. 



The Curlew-sandpiper (T. ferruginea) is not uncom- 

 monly met with on the autumn and spring migrations 

 at various points of our coast, generally in company 

 with Dunlins. Above it is chestnut, black, and grey, 

 below almost entirely brick-red. But this summer 

 plumage is seldom present in British-killed specimens, 

 for by autumn the red colouring vanishes and the 

 lower parts become white. The bill is long and de- 

 curved, as in the Curlew, the rump white with black 

 bars ; in a flock of Dunlins the latter fact and the 

 bird's greater stature render it clearly distinguishable. 

 It was not until 1897 that Mr Popham found the eggs 

 of this species at the mouth of the Yenisei, though 

 breeding individuals had been observed earlier in other 

 parts of Arctic Asia and as far west as Kolguev Island ; 

 it is impossible, therefore, at present to delimit its 

 summer range. The eggs are somewhat like those of 

 the Snipe, but much smaller the nest, as might be 

 expected on the Arctic wastes, much slighter. The 

 habits, as we know them, are those of the Dunlin, 



