t58 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



reach of the high tides, though, from the great difference there 

 is in the height of the spring-tides, one might suppose that the 

 birds would be often led into such a scrape. 



Unlike most birds of similar kind, the sandpiper^ builds a 

 substantial, comfortable nest, in some tuft of grass near the 

 river-side, well concealed by the surrounding herbage, instead 

 of leaving its eggs on the bare stones or sand. It is a lively- 

 little bird, and is always associated in my mind with summer 

 and genial weather as it runs jerking along the water's edge, 

 looking for insects or flies, and uttering its clear, pipe-like whistle. 

 The young of the sand-piper 'are neatly and elegantly mottled, 

 and are very difficult to be perceived. The eggs are brown and 

 yellow, nearly the colour of the withered grass and leaves with 

 which the bird forms its nest. 



Towards the end of March the curlew ^ begins to leave the 

 shore, taking to the higher hills, where it breeds, near the edge 

 of some loch or marsh. During the season of breeding this 

 bird (though so shy and suspicious at all other times) flies 

 boldly round the head of any passer-by, with a loud, screaming 

 whistle. The eggs are very large. When first hatched, the 

 young have none of the length of bill which is so distinguishing 

 a feature in the old bird. On the shore the curlews feed mostly 

 on cockles and other shell-fish, which they extract from the 

 sand with ease, and swallow whole, voiding the shells broken 

 into small pieces. During open weather they frequent the 

 turnip and grass fields, where they appear to be busily seeking 

 for snails and worms. 



There is no bird more difficult to get within shot of than 

 the curlew. Their sense of smelling is so acute that it is im- 

 possible to get near them excepting by going against the wind, 

 and they keep too good a look-out to leeward to admit of this 

 being always done. I have frequently killed them when feeding 

 in fields surrounded by stone walls, by showing my hand or 

 some small part of my dress above the wall, when they have 

 come wheeling round to discover what the object was. 



' The sandpiper ( Totanus hypoleucus) is everywhere in Scotland a common bird. It 

 " is a well known object as it skims the surface of the quiet lochs with arched and almost 

 motionless wings, or stands on some isolated stone, vibrating its body as it salutes the 

 rambling intruder on its haunts." Its cry resembles " killi leepie," and itself is so called 

 in some districts (Gray, p. 296). 



^ Lays four eggs (C. St. J.). Daring the breeding season, like most wild birds at 

 iuch times, it becomes much tamer, and even appro.tches habitations. 



