336 CHABADKIID^ 



and other Scottish Islands, are quite exceptional ; a 

 specimen was received from South Uist on October 31st, 

 1901 (Harvie-Brown, ' Avi-fauna Of The Outer Hebrides,' 

 1888-1902, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1902-3). 



Mr. Eagle Clarke records the appearance of " one, 

 perhaps two," between September 2nd and 8th, 1905, on 

 Fair Isle. This appears to be the first record from the 

 Shetlands (' The Birds of Fair Isle, Native and Migratory,' 

 Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1906, pp. 76-77). 



In Ireland, the Green Sandpiper occurs chiefly as an 

 autumn- visitor, but quite a number of birds remain during 

 winter. As a spring or early summer-migrant it is very 

 rare; a specimen shot 011 June 30th, 1903, in co. Mayo 

 (Godfrey Knox, ' Irish Naturalist,' 1903, p. 248), and another 

 at Malahide 1 on the coast of co. Dublin, on April 28th, 1906, 

 appear to be the only instances recorded. 



Lonely and well-wooded rivulets, skirted with stones 

 and sandy banks, sheltered ponds, swamps, and less fre- 

 quently flooded pasturage, are the haunts selected by this 

 shy and restless bird. Solitary individuals are most fre- 

 quently met with, less often pairs, and occasionally small 

 family groups. 



I know of no Sandpiper more difficult to approach ; 

 once observed, even at a distance, it takes wing, shooting 

 up in a zig-zag manner without a moment's hesitation, 

 and soon disappearing out of sight. Yet it is a common 

 habit of this species to return, after a long flight, to the 

 same spot, where the observer, if he remain concealed and 

 absolutely quiet, can continue to make observations for a 

 considerable time. In this way I have repeatedly watched 

 the movements of the Green Sandpiper. During the spring 

 of 1903, between May 3rd and June 14th, I made a series 

 of observations of a pair of these birds, concealing myself 

 amidst the foliage of a sheltered stream, a few miles 

 outside the city of Sheffield. After feeding, the birds fre- 

 quently flitted on to a stone wall where, for a little time, 

 they remained motionless. At intervals they suddenly shot 

 up into the air for a short distance, darting down again to 

 the same stone with astonishing speed. On the wing, they 



1 Mr. W. J. Williams who received this specimen, very kindly 

 offered me the opportunity of examining it. It is a female in nuptial 

 plumage. 



