608 SCOLOPACID.E. 



Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Hampshire, Kent, Essex, and the 

 north-eastern counties to Durham, and Northumberland. 

 Dr. Fleming mentions it as a constant summer visiter to 

 the most northern parts of the mainland of Scotland ; but 

 according to Mr. Low, Dunn, and others, it is not found in 

 Orkney and Shetland. Mr. Selby says, "it is very abun- 

 dant upon the shores of the Scottish fresh water lakes, and 

 upon Loch Awe in July, when the young broods begin to 

 fly, I have at one view seen three or four families on the 

 wing, crossing over or skimming along the edges of the 

 lake." Mr. Selby also observed this species very abundant 

 upon the margins of all the numerous locks and rivers in 

 Sutherlandshire. 



The habits of this Sandpiper are interesting, its actions 

 are lively, and it is mostly seen while running nimbly along 

 the gravelly margins of rivers, brooks, lakes, or ponds. 

 When on the ground it is in constant motion, flirting the 

 tail up and down, and almost as frequently stretching out, 

 and again withdrawing the head and neck. When dis- 

 turbed and flushed, this bird utters a piping note on taking 

 wing, which has been compared by Colonel Sykes to the 

 sounds, wheet, wheet, wheet ; and Mr. Selby says, that from 

 the resemblance to its well-known note one of the provincial 

 names of this species is Willy Wicket. 



The food of this Sandpiper is worms and insects. It is 

 seldom seen on the sea-shore. It makes a slight nest of 

 moss and dry leaves in a hole on a bank near fresh water, 

 generally under shelter of a bunch of rushes or a tuft of 

 grass, and sometimes in a corn-field, if it happens to extend 

 near enough towards the water. The eggs are four, reddish 

 white in colour, spotted and speckled with umber brown ; 

 one inch four lines in length, by one inch in breadth. If 

 disturbed during the period of incubation, Mr. Selby ob- 



