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On Rearing Sandpipers.



For some days they were covered all over with soft hair

like down and long filamentous particles where their tails would

one day be.


It was not for about a fortnight that they began to feather,

and it is only now at about two mouths old that they are begin¬

ning to resemble the old bird. The sexes are easy to tell, as the

cock has a much whiter waistcoat than the lieu. They have long

been able to fend for themselves.


As they are Waders, I provided them with a small “ Lake,”

made out of a disused scullery sink, and all day long they are

about in it, looking for imaginary prey. They love to bathe,

and when engaged in their tub they have a curious habit of

lashing the water up with their sterns.


I do not think they would hurt a healthy bluebottle,

unless perchance they ate him, but they have a habit of running

up to a bird with their necks stretched out very stiffly and

seizing him by a wing. The small bird merely looks at them

disdainfully and hops away, as much as to say What the

dickens are you trying to do ? ”


They are the prettiest and daintiest little birds imaginable,

with their soft browny grey plumage ; snowy waistcoats and long

aristocratic looking legs, quite reminding me of some of our best

County families !


I love to see them moving about in a manner at once

indicative of quiet security and an untroubled conscience. They

only get maggots about twice a week now, and the other inmates

of the aviary have to be pretty spry to get any.*



We would especially urge members to send in accounts of

their breeding results during the present summer, and we would

also remind them that any notes on rare birds are at all

times most acceptable. No member need be afraid to write if

he or she has anything of interest to communicate.



* I gave tlie Sandpipers their liberty to-night, August 17th, on our “Cars” or

water meadows, not wishing to keep them all the Winter.—C. D. F.



