GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 209 



Time during which the Common Sandpiper may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — During summer the Common Sandpiper is the best 

 known and most widely distributed species in the present genus. 

 It is a common bird on the banks of inland lakes and pools, 

 rivers and lochs, especially those where the banks are at all 

 muddy and stretches of gravel are frequent. It is, however, a 

 bird of the wilder districts, and does not haunt the waters of the 

 low-lying counties. It arrives at its breeding grounds in England 

 about the middle of April, passing Gibraltar in its northern flight 

 during March and April, but it seldom arrives in Scotland before 

 the end of April or the beginning of May. In the high north it 

 does not arrive until June. The return migration commences in 

 England as early as the end of July, and continues through August 

 to the end of September. At Gibraltar the autumn flight com- 

 mences in August and lasts to October. The Common Sandpiper 

 is an active little bird, fond of tripping round the waterside over 

 the mud and sand, and occasionally wading into the shallows. It 

 is not a shy bird, and may be closely approached and watched 

 as it runs about the shore. It often runs with surprising quick- 

 ness, and whenever it stops for a moment the tail is beaten rapidly 

 up and down several times. It flies well and quickly, usually 

 close to the water, its wings often striking the surface ; and during 

 flight it often glides for a little distance, and elevates its wings for 

 a moment just after it drops on to the ground. Yearly it returns to 

 the same haunts, and will make its nest in one particular spot in 

 spite of continual disturbance. Like many other Waders it may 

 often be seen running on walls or palings during the season of 

 courtship, and has been known to perch in trees. The male bird 

 also soars at this period, and utters a short but not unmusical 

 trill. The usual note is a shrill but not very loud weet, rapidly 

 repeated when the bird is excited or alarmed, and almost in- 

 variably uttered as it rises from the ground. The food of this 

 species is composed of insects and their larvse, worms, various 

 ground fruits, and in autumn and winter of crustaceans and other 

 small marine animals. Parties of Common Sandpipers may be 

 met with on the sea coast at the end of July, and during the 

 period of the autumn passage they are fairly numerous on the 



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