49 



man to Mr. Hewitson's work on British birds' eggs : — " I have found it breeding in several 

 localities north of the Bothnian gulf; but it is scarce, and, as far as I have seen, confined to a few 

 favourite spots. Grassy banks and pastures by the water-side are the kind of places where it takes 

 up its breeding-quarters ; and it seems to like to be near houses. Nothing can be more interesting 

 or pretty than this little bird in the early part of summer ; it is so tame that one could often 

 catch it in a net at the end of a stick. At one time it is hovering with its wings raised over its 

 back, or floating about, and it reminds one rather of some insect than any other bird ; at another 

 time it may be standing on the top of a stone or stake, or the gable end of a cottage ; and whether 

 hovering or standing on its perch, it utters a constant trilling note, of which I can best give an 

 idea by saying that it brought to my recollection the Grasshopper Warbler, though the resem- 

 blance is perhaps slight. When its eggs are very near, it sometimes runs about one's feet, and, 

 though it cannot but be anxious, it seems as busy as ever, picking gnats and other insects off the 

 grass. One nest which I found, was a short stone's throw from a cottage where children were 

 playing about in all directions ; another was only a pace or two from a spring from which women 

 drew water every day, and passers by often stopped to drink. The nest is very simple — a few 

 short bits of hay, a little saucer-shaped hollow, placed amongst thin grass or sedge, generally not 

 far from the water's edge, but sometimes in the middle of a meadow. The eggs were laid this 

 year (1854) about Midsummer day." 



Mr. J. H Gurney, jun., has sent us the accompanying original note on the habits of the 

 present species: — " On the 4th of October 1871, I observed a Temminck's Stint at Kingsbury, at 

 some small roots, on the left-hand side of the end of the reservoir. As I had no gun to shoot it, 

 I did the next best thing, in observing its habits. Its appearance was more that of an insect 

 than a bird ; and it was so much the colour of mud that, if I only took my eye off it for an instant, 

 I was in danger of losing it, being very hard to see, except when its reflection fell on the still 

 margin of the water. It never fed but on the mud ; and then in a stooping attitude, with its 

 tail rather high, it jerked rapidly to the right and left, appearing rather to touch the mud than 

 to probe it. That its food is very minute I can well believe, as it pecked something every 

 second ; but the consumption must be enormous if it swallows every time, and the digestion no 

 doubt correspondingly rapid, as testified by the mutings at the edge of the water, which were 

 white and numerous. When it ran off the mud, it kept making little pauses, which it had not 

 done when feeding, except when it saw me surveying it through my glasses. It exhibited no fear 

 when people passed it, only flying up and settling again. A Titlark feeding near caused it no 

 alarm. Once a Pied Wagtail went up to it, and stared as if at a stranger ; but the Stint took no 

 notice. Its pace was slow, except when I approached too near, when it ran very quickly. Once 

 I saw it wade into the water to wash itself. It went in as far as it could do without wetting its 

 breast, and then began by straining its neck and preening the upper part of the breast. On 

 landing again it preened the back and wing, commencing with the right side. The operation 

 took about five minutes. It was the only time I saw it desist from feeding. I never saw the 

 ends of the wings droop below the tail: their tips just seemed to cross above it; neither did I see 

 it rest upon one leg, with the other one partly drawn up — an attitude in which Sandpipers are 

 often represented. Once or twice it gave its head a little shake in the air, and occasionally when 

 probing it did so, to get rid, I imagine, of any foreign substance which adhered to the beak. 



