604 SCOLOPACID.E. 



truder. If you have observed the actions and manoeuvres 

 of the Redshank, during the breeding season, you will have 

 seen very much the habits of the Wood Sandpiper. 



It is far from being numerous in the localities where I 

 met with it ; yet many pairs are dispersed over these dis- 

 tricts, where they have long been known to breed, from in- 

 formation which I obtained from several intelligent sports- 

 men, to whom the bird was well known. 



Although I met with the young in a downy state, and 

 partially feathered, I only obtained one nest with eggs. 

 The nest is generally placed at a short distance from the 

 water, among stunted heath, or scrubby plants of the bog 

 myrtle, or among coarse grass and rushes. It is placed in 

 a hollow, and is formed of dry grass and other plants. 

 The eggs are four in number. An egg is figured by Mr. 

 Hewitson in his work. One egg of the Wood Sandpiper 

 in my own collection measures one inch seven lines in 

 length, by one inch and half a line in breadth ; pointed in 

 shape, of a pale greenish white, spotted and speckled par- 

 ticularly over the broad end with dark reddish brown. 

 This rare egg was given me by Richard Dann, Esq., who 

 obtained two or three in Norway, with the eggs of some 

 other very rare birds to be hereafter referred to. 



M. Nilsson says the Wood Sandpiper is found occasion- 

 ally in Sweden, inhabiting swampy woods during summer ; 

 and there is no doubt that this bird breeds every season as 

 far north as the Arctic circle, both in Norway and Lap- 

 land. The food consists of worms and insects ; and Mr. 

 Hoy told me he had seen it perch on the upper twigs of a 

 bush, which appears to be the habit of the Redshank and 

 some others of the same genus. 



The Wood Sandpiper is found in some of the provinces 

 of Germany, but only a few of these birds are seen in Hoi- 



