Birds of Britain 



rare, but in the south-east comer of England it occurs in 

 small numbers yearly, especially in autumn. Formerly a 

 few pairs used to nest in one or two suitable localities, 

 but they have long ceased to do so. In the west of Europe 

 it does not breed south of the Baltic, but in the east it 

 breeds in the valley of the Danube and also possibly in 

 Northern Italy. 



The nest is placed on the ground in a marshy spot, and 

 when they have eggs or young the birds are extremely 

 noisy if their haunts are invaded. In this country it is 

 generally found on salt marshes near the sea and very 

 rarely inland. 



The sexes are alike : the back brown, spotted with white ; 

 upper tail coverts white ; shafts of the quills dusky, except 

 that of the outermost one, which is white. Under parts white, 

 streaked with brown on the throat and breast, the flanks 

 being barred with the same colour. Axillaries white. 

 The young bird is similar, but the white spots are larger and 

 more elongated, and the outer tail feathers are barred on both 

 webs instead of on the outer one only. Length 8"5 in. ; bill 

 1*1 in.; wing 5 in. 



GREEN SANDPIPER 



Totanus ochropus (Linnaeus) 



This is a much commoner species than the last, and 

 haunts inland streams, especially in the neighbourhood of 

 trees and woods. It is most numerous during the autumn 



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