OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 223 



Australia and to Tasmania, for breeding purposes is yet unknown. There can, 

 however, be no doubt that the Common Sandpiper breeds in South Africa, and is 

 another of those species with a northern and southern migration from an 

 equatorial base. This Sandpiper has been recorded from Aldabra Island, 

 Reunion, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Anjuan. 



Allied forms. — Totanus macularius, the American representative of the 

 Common Sandpiper, an abnormal visitor to the British Islands, and dealt with 

 fully in the following chapter. 



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 commences in August and lasts till 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 quickness, 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 invariably uttered as it rises from the ground. The food of this species is 

 composed of insects and their larvae, 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 rocks at low water, 

 but never occur in very large flocks. Here they are just as active and lively as at 

 their inland mountain haunts, and are by no means shy or difficult to approach. 

 They prefer the rocky beach either to mud-flats, sands, or shingle, and are very 



