284 SCOLOPACID.E. 



Axillaries white, no white on primaries, secondaries, or central upper 

 tail-coverts ; outside tail-feathers mottled ; hill straight, as long as head. 



Male in spring. With a ruff of various shades from black to pure white 

 and chestnut. 



Female, and male in winter. Without ruff. Legs yellowish brown. 

 Length : male 12^ inches, female 



312. Totanus ochropus (Linnaeus). The Green Sandpiper. 



Spanish. Lavandera. 



" This species is not uncommon in winter around Tangier, 

 frequenting the edges of lakes and the banks of rivers alone or 

 in pairs. They depart northwards during February and March, 

 reappearing by August and September." Favier. 



The Green Sandpiper, a bird in which I have from my boyish 

 days in Norfolk always taken a special interest, is in Anda- 

 lucia, as in England, extremely irregular and uncertain in its 

 movements, changing its ground continually, and fluctuating 

 greatly in numbers ; days elapse without seeing a single bird, 

 and suddenly several appear, but are seldom observed in any 

 greater number than two or three together ; generally they are 

 solitary in their habits, and without exception frequent shores of 

 freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams. The loud note of this 

 Sandpiper and the white tail-coverts, which show markedly on 

 the wing, can hardly fail to cause recognition. The curious 

 fact of their nidification on trees in old nests of other birds 

 has probably led to their nests in many countries being over- 

 looked ; and who can tell that they may not yet be found 

 breeding in Andalucia 1 



The Green Sandpiper is most common in the winter months 

 near Gibraltar ; and the only month in which I have not seen 

 any has been July ; but then I had no opportunity of so doing. 

 This Sandpiper always has a musky odour. 



Bill straight, longer than head, as in the genus Totanus. 



Above greenish brown, with minute white spots ; below white ; rump 

 and outer tail-feathers on each side white ; axillaries brownish black, with 

 narrow white bars ; legs dark green. Length 9| inches. 



