GAMS BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 219 



shallows. Its food is not known to differ from that of the Green 

 Sandpiper, and its note is described as a shrill whistle. 



Nidification. — It is a most extraordinary fact that the nest- 

 ing habits and the eggs of the Solitary Sandpiper are absolutely 

 unknown ! Its breeding grounds are neither unknown nor in- 

 accessible, nevertheless its eggs remain undiscovered. This is 

 most probably because American naturalists have not searched for 

 them in trees. There can be no possible doubt that the Solitary 

 Sandpiper breeds in a similar way to its Old World representative, 

 and lays its eggs in the deserted nests of other birds. During the 

 breeding season it frequents similar localities, forest swamps, and 

 pools. Its eggs probably closely resemble those of the Green 

 Sandpiper. 



Diagnostic Characters. — Totanus, with the axillaries brown 

 narrowly barred with white, and the central upper tail coverts the 

 same colour as the back and rump ; primaries unbarred. Length, 

 9 inches. 



