GREEN SANDPlFFAi.—TOhi lilts 'khropiis. 



COMMON SANDPIPER.— rruiffdiVies hypoUnca. 



The two birds on the accompanying illustration are good examples of the Totaninse or 

 Sandpipers. 



The Green Sandpiper is, like the whole of its tribe, a frequenter of wet and marshy 

 lands, and seems not to be so fond of the sea-shore as many allied species. Salt-water 

 marshes are, however, favourite spots with these birds, and whenever the brackish water 

 spreads from the sea-coast over the adjoining country, as is the case along part of the 

 southern coast of England, there the Green Sandpiper may generally be found. It is a 

 (piick and active bird, running about with much agility, and flirting its short tail up and 

 down as it moves along. It is rather noisy, its cry being a shrill whistle remarkably loud 

 in proportion to the size of the bird, and very constantly repeated. When flushed it 

 begins to scream, and flies rapidly away at a low elevation, keeping as much as possible 

 over the water. 



The food of the Green Sandpiper consists of w^orms, and the myriad insects and other 

 small creatures that swarm in moist and w^atery situations. Generally, this Sandpiper 

 moves off to Northern Europe for the breeding season, but it not unfrequently remains 

 with us for the purpose of rearing its young. The nest is mostly placed on the bank by 

 the side of a stream, hidden by overhanging grass or some such protection. The eggs are 

 four in number and are greyish white with a tinge of green, spotted rather profusely with 

 grey and ruddy brown. In colouring, however, the eggs are variable, the number and 

 colour of the spots differing in individual specimens. Tire flesh of this Sandpiper is 

 highly esteemed, and in the countries where the bird is plentiful it is largely captured by 

 limed twigs and other snares. 



The general colour of the upper surface of this species is brownish green with waved 

 markings of deeper brown. Over the eye runs a rather broad line of white. The 

 primaries are black, and the scapularies and tertials greenish brown profusely spotted 

 with a lighter tint. The tail-feathers are white for the first half of their length, and are 

 then banded with blackish brown. The chin, breast, and abdomen are white, and the 

 front and sides of the neck are also white, but are streaked with narrow lines of grey- 

 brown. In total length the Green Sandpiper is not quite ten inches. 



