CLVIl. 



TRINGA PLATYRHYNCHA. 



Broad-billed Sandpiper. 



This bird, as well as its eggs, are quite a recent acqui- 

 sition to our British list ; and I feel much indebted to the 

 kindness and liberality of Mr. Yarrell for the opportunity 

 of figuring the very interesting varieties of the eggs now 

 given ; to him they were presented by Mr. Dann, together 

 with the following infonuation given in the 'British Birds.' 



" This Sandpiper is by no means uncommon during the 

 breeding season in Lulea and Tornea Lapmark, frequent- 

 ing grassy morasses and swamps in small colonies, gene- 

 rally in the same places as those frequented by the Wood 

 Sandpiper. It breeds also at Fogstuen, on the Dovre 

 Field mountains in Norway, about three thousand feet 

 above the level of the sea, where it arrives at the latter end 

 of May. On its first appearance it is wild and shy ; on 

 being disturbed it soars to a great height in the air, ris- 

 ing and falling suddenly, like the Snipe : as the weather 

 becomes warm its habits totally change, skulking and 

 creeping through the dead grass, and allowing itself to be 

 followed within a few yards. 



" It seems to lay its eggs later than other species of this 

 tribe generally. I Ibund the eggs not sat upon on the 24th 

 of June, and the last week in July the young were unable 

 to fly, a period when all the other Sandpipers are on the 

 move south. Its nest, like that of the Snipe, was on a 

 huramocky tuft of grass. I procured one nest with four 

 eggs in it." 



Figure 2 of the plate is one of the most singular varieties 

 of an egg which I have ever seen, and, except in shape, 

 bears no resemblance whatever to the egg:, of any of the 

 Sandpipers. It was taken from the same nest with that of 

 the accompanying figure. 



