XII. 

 TRINGA HYPOLEUCOS. (linn.) 

 Common Sandpiper, Sand Lark, kc. 



This elegant little bird breeds about tlie middle of May, 

 and like all its congeners (as far as mv experience goes) lays 

 invariably four eggs, and, as I have mentioned in describing 

 those of the Peewit, admirably adapted by their shape and 

 arrangement in the nest, so as to require the least possible 

 covering ; and this is quite necessary, the eggs of this, and 

 all the Waders, being remarkably large in proportion to the 

 size of the bird, when compared with those of most otlier 

 species. 



The Common Sandpiper frequents almost every river, 

 skimming over its surface, and uttering its sweet, melanclioly 

 whistle. It lays its eggs either amongst the large dockens 

 (Tussilago) that grow upon their banks, or upon the gravel 

 beds by their margin : in the former situation, where there is 

 apparently less need, it makes a slight nest, by collecting a 

 little dry grass, and placing it in a hole scratched for that 

 purpose ; in the latter, none, contenting itself with a hole 

 only ; but here it is a very difficult matter to discover the 

 eggs, placed as they are amongst the small pebbles, with which 

 their colouring and markings are so much in accordance ; and 

 here instinct teaches it, that a collection of grass where none 

 grows, would only add to their being the more readily de- 

 tected. I have found its eggs upon the bare rock, where no 

 such hole could be made for their reception. They vary, in 

 general, but slightly. The first figure shows the usual shape 

 and markings ; the latter, the most distant variety I have 

 seen. There are intermediate ones, but the spots are gene- 

 rally minute. 



