898 LIMICOLA PLATYRHYNCIIA. 



Severtzoff did not observe it on passage in Turkestan, nor do Messrs. Stoliczka, Scully, and Henderson 

 record it from Kashgar. Mr. Seebohm did not meet with it on the Yenesay ; even in Western Siberia it was 

 not the lot of Dr. Finsch, in his extensive travels, to sec it; so that we may conclude that, as far as Indian 

 birds are concerned, those in the north-west pass by way of Persia, Arabia, and Palestine into Europe, and 

 those in the eastern parts (Burmah, &c.) migrate to North-east Siberia, where Middendorff found it on the 

 Sea of Okhotsk. Neither Schrenck nor Prjevalsky met with it, and it is not recorded from Japan. In China 

 Swinhoe says that it is found in winter, as also in Formosa; and Pere David remarks of it that, though 

 frequent in Formosa, it is only found in small numbers on the coast of China ; he observed some examples in 

 the Shanghai market in April and May. It has not been met with hitherto in the Philippine Archipelago ; 

 but it ranges south probably along the Siam coast into the Malay Islands, for Reiuwardt procured it in Java, 

 and Salvadori records it, though doubtfully, from Borneo. 



In Europe it is confined to the north in the breeding-season, and is found on passage in the south-east 

 and as far west as Belgium, where it has been obtained on the Meuse. In Germany it occurs rarely on passage, 

 and is more often seen in spring than autumn. On the northern coasts of France it is met with, says 

 Mr. Dresser, at irregular intervals, and is found on the south coast as well. Mr. Goebel and Professor von 

 Nordmaim record it from the neighbourhood of Russia. It occurs but rarely in Sicily. Messrs. Elwes and 

 Buckley record specimens as having been obtained on the Bosphorus by a Mr. Robson. 



As regards its breeding-habitat : it was found nesting in Norway and Lapland, north of 58°, by Messrs. 

 ( iollett and Wolley ; and it occurs in the Archangel district also in summer. Though it breeds in the north of 

 Sweden and Norway, it is met with only on passage in the autumn in the south of Scandinavia, as also in 

 Denmark and in the islands near Riigen. It is rare in Germany, being chiefly seen during the spring migration. 

 As it is not found in Spain, it would not, as a matter of course, occur in Morocco ; and I find no reference of its 

 having been obtained in Algeria. In Egypt Capt. Shelley does not seem to have met with it; but Von Heuglin 

 shot it once near Suez in August, and believes that he saw small flocks in September near Ras-Belul, on the 

 African coast of the Red Sea; he states that Hedenborg procured it in Egypt; but from these few occur- 

 rences it is evident that it is not a regular visitor to this region. That it passes rarely down the east coast of 

 Africa is proved by its having been procured in Madagascar. 



Habils. — This fine Stint frequents the mud banks on the borders of tidal rivers, and the sands and ooze 

 on shores and lagoons respectively, and appears to be almost more restricted to the vicinity of the sea-coast 

 than any other of the more common members of its genus. It is found in small parties of less than half a 

 dozen in number or singly, and associates with the Little Stint and other small congeners. I have never had 

 an opportunity of seeing it alive ; but Von Heuglin informs us that it resembles the Dunlin in its carriage, 

 actions, and flight, and that when on the wing it goes in tolerably close company. Mr. Dresser, who observed 

 it off the coast of Uleaborg, in Finland, writes that it resembles the Jack Snipe in its flight : of its note h e 

 cannot speak, as he did not hear it ; but I should say it probably resembles that of other Stints. In the 

 breeding-season, according to Mr. Wolley, it makes a faint twittering noise. 



Nidificalion. — In Europe this bird has been found breeding in Lapland, and in Norway on the Dovrefjold. 

 The situations chosen are, writes Mr. Wolley, " open soft places on the marsh where there is little else than 

 bog-moss with a light growth of a kind of sedge ; and on a low tuft just rising above the water its nest may 



be found, often without much difficulty Many empty nests may be found for one that is occupied; and 



I supjiose them to be nests of former years ; for the moss in which they are usually worked long retains any 

 mark made in it, being hard-frozen for more than half the year. They are neatly rounded hollows, and have 

 a few bits of dry grass at the bottom. The bird sometimes flies and sometimes runs off her eggs ; and if she 

 has sat for a day or two she will come back even whilst men are standing all around." 



Mr. Mitchell, who found it nesting on the Dovrefjeld, writes to Mr. Alston some interesting notes, which 

 1 extract from Mr. Dresser's ' Birds of Europe' : — "It is rather curious to notice how the lining of the nest 

 is suited to the colour of the eggs. The darkest ones are laid on the brown withered leaves of the mountain- 

 willow, while one nest, the eggs of which were as light as Dunlins', was lined entirely with grass ; several others 

 were mixed with it. . . . The nests are more elaborate than most of the Sandpipers', scratched deeper down, 



