WOOD SANDPIPER. 603 



common, near Epping, in May last, 1840 ; the female was 

 shot and brought to him : on examination the eggs were 

 found to be much enlarged. Specimens have been killed 

 in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk ; Mr. W. B. Fisher 

 has recorded the recent capture of this species at Yar- 

 mouth ; and Mr. Selby has recorded three instances that 

 have occurred in Durham and Northumberland. 



Some particulars of the habits of this bird, as observed by 

 the late Mr. Hoy, and communicated to Mr. Hewitson, are 

 thus detailed in his work on the eggs of our British Birds. 

 " This species is migratory, making its appearance in April, 

 and retiring in September. That it breeds rather early I 

 infer, from having met with the young, feathered, and ca- 

 pable of flying a short distance, on the llth of June. 

 I regret that I did not discover the bird till late in the 

 season." 



A great portion of Dutch Brabant, more particularly the 

 southern and eastern parts, are covered by large tracts of 

 heath ; the soil of a light sandy nature. A great number 

 of peat bogs and shallow pools of water are dispersed over 

 this district. Most of the small streams are skirted by 

 swampy ground, where the bog myrtle grows in the great- 

 est luxuriance, with stunted bushes of alder and willow. 

 These situations are the favourite haunt of this Sandpiper 

 during the breeding season. While the hen bird is sitting, 

 the male flies round in wide circles, and at a considerable 

 elevation. The female sits close ; and the nest is extreme- 

 ly difficult to find. 



If you approach the spot when they have young, and 

 especially if a dog is with you, the old birds will fly round 

 in the most anxious manner, and will hover over the dog- 

 within a few feet ; then suddenly darting off, mount high in 

 the air, pouncing down again with great rapidity on the in- 



