34:4 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



from a young Ruff, the only bird with which it might possibly he con- 

 tounded, by the extreme length of its tail, which has given it its specific 

 name of longicauda.] 



Common Sandpiper. Tringoides hyjpoleucus (Linn.). 



[Summer Snipe, Otterling (on the Exe).] 



A summer migrant, to be met with both in the spring and early 

 autumn in small flocks on the banks of rivers and streams in the 

 neighbourhood of the sea. It arrives in April, the earliest date 

 observed by ourselves being the 7th of that month in 1872, and 

 departs about the middle of October. A few stragglers sometimes remain 

 until November and December on the estuaries of the Exe and Dart 

 (G. F. M., Zool. 1875, pp. 4327, 4328). Soon after their first arrival 

 the flocks disappear from the estuaries until the end of June or the 

 beginning of July, as observed by ourselves on the Exe, and Mr. E. A. S. 

 Elliot at Kingsbridge ; but the Eev. E. A. Julian and Mr. Gatcombe state 

 that they do not return to the coast near Plymouth from their breeding- 

 places on the moorlands until the end of August (' Naturalist,' 1851, 

 ]). 88, and Zool. 1882, p. 64), though some were seen at the end of 

 July 1882 (Zool. 1882, p. 49). The Common Sandpiper is seen in pairs 

 on the Okement, Avon, and other Dartmoor streams in summer, and 

 the nest has frequently been found. The eggs are laid in May. 



About the middle of April this well-known bird makes its appearance 

 in pairs by most of our inland West Country streams at certain favourite 

 places, remaining for a few days, and then pursuing its course to its 

 nesting-stations on the moors. Here it at once proceeds to engage itself 

 with its nest, and contiiiues all the summer until the young are strong on 

 wing, and then, towards the end of July, it leaves the moors and descends 

 to the creeks and shores of tidal estuaries, where it stays until the end of 

 September in little flocks composed of two or three broods. By the 

 beginning of October all but one or two will have left for the south. The 

 angler who fishes moorland streams cannot fail to notice this graceful 

 Sandpiper as it flies before him with its shrill whistle, settling on a stone 

 in midstream, SAvaying its body to and fro, and then rising again on his 

 approach. Should the nest be situated near the water great will be the 

 excitement of the birds as the fisherman draws near to it ; they will fly 

 round him in repeated circles and will be very clamorous until he is once 

 more at a safe distance from their treasures. We have found the nest 

 with young birds in it at Simonsbath, on Exmoor, and have had one of 

 the old Sandpipers come and settle close to our hand as we were stooping 

 down looking at it. We were contented with a brief examination, and 

 then hastened away to set the anxious birds at rest. When fishing on the 

 Earle we were once close to a Common Sandpiper, which did not see us, as 

 a high furze bush by the edge of the water screened us effectually, when 

 the bird rose from the shingle and flew up a few feet, twittering a little 

 sung, and then slowly descended again with outstretched wings, in the 



