MAB8H SANDPIPEB. 9 



of its occurrence in Malta: — "The Marsh. Sandpiper, although not 

 common, is pretty ■well known to the native sportsmen, who have 

 given it a name which implies that it attracts other birds, or that 

 when it is seen other game may be expected. What habit gave rise 

 to its singular local appellation, or what influence it exercises over 

 other species, I cannot say. Probably none at all. A few individuals 

 are shot every year in spring and antumn, and sometimes they 

 appear in small flocks. They are very easily approached, and not 

 readily scared. An instance occurred in 1860 of one allowing itself 

 to be taken by the hand in some short grass, in which it tried to 

 elude its pursuer by running Rail-fashion, instead of taking to flight 

 like other birds of its genus. It was not wounded, and did not 

 appear to be exhausted, as, when set free in a room, it ran about 

 briskly, its neck drawn in close to its shoulders. In April of the 

 same year a flock of about twenty appeared at a marshy place at the 

 head of the Great Harbour of Valetta, and it was not before seven 

 or eight of their number were successively shot at and killed that 

 the rest made off"." 



On the African shores we find it recorded by Von Heuglin ("Ibis," 

 vol. i, p. 347,) as having been observed at Massaua, in Abyssinia, on 

 the shores of the Red Sea. Mr. Taylor, in the same volume, 

 informs us that a single specimen was taken by him near Denderah, 

 in Egypt; and Captain Loche includes it in his Algerian fauna, but 

 only as a bird of passage. Extending eastward. Dr. Leith Adams 

 says it is very common in Hindostan, and the countries westward; 

 and Colonel Irby, in his notes on the "Birds of Oudh and Kumaon," 

 ("Ibis," vol. iii, p. 239,) remarks that it is there "very common in 

 the cold season. In habits resembles Actitis glareola, being more of 

 a Marsh Sandpiper than A. ocliropus or A. hypoleucus, both of which 

 are found on the banks of rivers; the common Sandpiper being seldom 

 seen on muddy marshes." 



I copy the following from Heuglin's "Vog. Nord-ost Africas:" — "I 

 have met with this bird in all stages of plumage in the north-east of 

 Africa, yet it shows itself generally singly or in pairs, here and there 

 mixing with Sandpipers and Sanderlings. It commonly avoids the 

 sea-coast. On the other hand it frequents brackish water, brooks, 

 old lakes, wild rivulets in the forest regions, and real marsh 

 lands. This bird comes early in autumn into Egypt. We found it 

 at Alexandria even at the commencement of August, and on its 

 return passage (in the opposite direction) as far on as April. In 

 March we found it on Tana Lake, in Abyssinia; in April and May 

 in summer plumage on the streams of Eastern Senaar. It has been 

 VOL. V. c 



