TOTANIN.E. 699 



Northern India, among the hills, as Capt. Irby mentions having 

 seen them in May, June, and July. 



The next species is kept under restricted Actitis, (Tringoides, 

 Bonap. apud Gray — and Guinetta, Gray.) 



893. Actitis hypoleucos, Linn^us. 



Tringa, apud Ltnn^us — Bltth, Cat. 1586 — Stkes, Cat. 194 — 

 Jerdon, Cat. 355 — A. empusa, Gould — Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. 318 — Potti ulatika, Tel. 



The Common Sandpipee. 



Descr. — All the upper parts ashy-brown glossed with green, and 

 the shafts darker ; back and wing-coverts with fine transverse brown 

 lines ; a white supercilium ; quills brown with a large white spot 

 on the inner webs of all except the first two ; the four central 

 tail feathers like the back ; the two next tipped with white, the 

 outer one tipped white, and barred on the outer web with brown 

 and white ; beneath pure white, streaked with brown on the neck 

 and breast. 



Bill dusky ; irides brown ; legs pale green. Length 7f to 8£ 

 inches ; extent 13^ ; wing 4£ to 4^; tail 2 T * n ; bill at front 1 ; 

 tarsus 1. 



In summer, the green reflections are said to be stronger, but 

 there is no other change. 



The common Sandpiper of Europe is perhaps in India the least 

 common of the three species of Actitis, it is usually to be met with 

 about the muddy shores of tidal rivers, canals, &c, more plentifully 

 than elsewhere, also on the pebbly banks of rivers. Like the 

 last two species it is generally solitary. Its flight is somewhat 

 jerking, with intervals of rest, when the wings are slightly bent 

 downwards. This Sandpiper and the last are almost universally 

 distributed, and breed in Northern and temperate regions. 



Tot. macularia, L., is placed in this genus as restricted, and is 

 occasionally killed in Britain. 



Gen. Totanus, Bechstein, (after Ray). 



Char. — Bill straight or slightly ascending, stouter than in 

 Actitis, the tip distinctly curved ; otherwise as in Actitis, but the 



