THE STILT-WALKERS. 45 



keeping only thsir head and neck below the surface as they explore the ground beneath. In all the 

 various species the voice is high, flute-like, and resonant. ' The food of the Totani consists of insects, 

 worms, small molluscs, and fishes, and is obtained, not by probing the earth, a process to which their 

 hard sharp bill is not adapted, but from the surface of the ground, or from amongst stones and gravel. 

 Shortly after the snow has melted, these birds commence the duties attendant on incubation, and 

 resort to their favourite fresh-water marshes or moist woods for the purpose of breeding. The nest, 

 which is usually situated on the ground among the grass, is a mere depression, made smooth and neat 

 within, and lined with grass or any similar materials. In some instances, however, the Totani build 

 upon low trees, stones, or branches, either making a small abode for themselves with moss and other 

 vegetable matter, or using a deserted nest as a repository for their young family. The large pear- 

 shaped eggs are four in number, and have an olive-green shell, marked with brownish grey. The 

 female alone broods, whilst her mate busies himself in anxious endeavours to protect her and her 

 charge by flying around with troubled cries should they be disturbed. The young can leave the nest 

 as soon as they quit the shell, and, if alarmed, at once conceal themselves with much adroitness 

 upon the ground or in the grass. When fledged they usually fly about to very considerable distances 

 over the country, until the season arrives for commencing their winter migration. 



The TRUE SANDPIPERS (Actitis) are small, delicately-formed birds, with straight, flexible, 

 but hard-tipped beaks ; the moderate-sized, crescent-shaped wing is rather pointed at its extremity; 

 and the long graduated tail composed of twelve feathers. The soft compact plumage is peculiar both 

 in its coloration and markings, and varies but little at different seasons. The females are somewhat 

 smaller than their mates. 



THE COMMON SANDPIPER. 



The Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is of a yellow-brown on the upper portion of the 

 body, shaded with green and purple, and marked with black. The feathers on the side of the crop are 

 of a brownish hue, with shafts and oval spots of a deeper shade. Those on the under side are white ; 

 the primaries are brownish black, delicately bordered with whitish grey towards the tips, and from the 

 third quill decorated with white spots, which gradually increase in size as they approach the body. 

 The lower secondaries are pale blackish brown, with white roots and tips ; the centre tail-feathers 

 brownish grey, shafted with black, and spotted and edged with reddish yellow ; tire rest white, more 

 or less striped with black. The eye is brown ; the beak greyish black, with lighter base, and die 

 foot lead-grey. The length of this species is from seven inches and three-quarters to eight inches, and 

 from twelve inches and a half to thirteen inches broad. The wing measures four inches, and the tail 

 two inches and a half. 



The Common Sandpipers are abundantly met with on all the streams, lakes, and sea-coasts of the 

 northern portions of both hemispheres, and both live and breed in the temperate latitudes, remaining 

 in the latter from one year to another, while such as occupy the colder regions wander as far as 

 Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Great Britain and Ireland are regularly visited during the 

 summer by these birds, but they do not, we believe, resort to the Orkney or Shetland Isles. A 

 correspondent, quoted by Yarrell, who writes from the vicinity of Clitheroe, says, " The Common 

 Sandpiper breeds with us, and this year I started an old one from her nest at the root of a fir-tree. 

 She screamed out and rolled about in such a manner, and seemed so completely disabled, that 

 although perfectly aware that her intention was to allure me from her nest, I could not resist my 

 inclination to pursue her, and in consequence I had great difficulty in finding the nest again. It was 

 built of a few dried leaves of a Weymouth pine, and contained three young ones just hatched, and an 

 egg through the shell of which the bill of the young chick was just making its way ; yet, young as they 



