190 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
141. COMMON SANDPIPER, Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.). 
This and Temminck’s Stint were the commonest Sand- 
pipers in the Delta, but there is one marked difference in 
their habits; the latter goes in flocks, the former is almost 
invariably single. The Common Sandpiper is also nearly 
as abundant in the upper part of Egypt, and I saw a-few at’ 
the Faioum. 
The agility with which they dive is well known, as is 
their characteristic flight. With drooping wings they skim 
so low over the water that the points almost touch it, 
uttering “wheet, wheet” as they fly. The bird describes a 
semi-circle and settles again at no great distance; or ifa 
a flock of Green Sandpipers or “ Pluvians” are passing, he 
makes a dash at them and goes up stream in the capacity 
of “plover’s page” to their rear-guard. 
In general I believe the very small water insects are their 
food, but I once saw a very ambitious one with what I feel 
sure wasa frog. He was walking about as if he did not 
know what to do with it; and truly it was a large morsel 
for such a mouth. Those who have used carbolic acid for 
preserving birds must have remarked what very small 
mouths the Sandpiper tribe have. 
Some time ago there was a discussion in the “ Zoologist” 
about the diving powers of the Common Sandpiper. I have 
seen it in England dive on three or four occasions when 
wounded, and I once caught one at Dungeness with my 
hand, in the act of diving, but I never saw it dive for 
pleasure. A gentleman who knows the bird well, told me 
that on one occasion he saw one dive to escape a Merlin, 
which Merlin he immediately afterwards struck into the 
water with his fishing rod. 
