132 



6 



16th (28th) of May, where it must have been already some time. Mr. Maack met with it in 

 various parts of the Amoor in July and August, and also obtained it from the Lower Schilka. 

 It is said to be found in Kamtschatka; and Mr. Swinhoe records it (Ibis, 1874, p. 163) from 

 Japan, where, he states, a female was shot in April, and a male in May, at Hakodadi. He also 

 states that it is found throughout China, Formosa, and Hainan, and is very common. The 

 Marquis of Tweeddale has received specimens shot on Ross Island in December, and the South 

 Andamans in January; and, according to Mr. A. O. Hume (Str. Feathers, ii. p. 299), Mr. Davidson 

 says : — " This is certainly the most common of all the shore-birds that occur at the Andamans 

 and Nicobars ; it frequents the sea-shore, saltwater creeks, freshwater streams ; in fact there is 

 scarcely a little puddle about the place where it cannot be found. I have seen it in small parties ; 

 but it is usually found single or in pairs. At night it roosts in small parties among the mangroves 

 or in some branch overhanging the water." It has been met with in the Philippines by Cuming, 

 and in the Nicobars by the Novara expedition. Messrs. Hartlaub and Finsch record it from the 

 Pelew Islands ; and it has been obtained in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Banka, Celebes, Ceram, 

 Amboina, in the Eastern Moluccas, Halmahera, Ternate, Batchian, Morotai, the island of Samao, 

 Flores, Timor, Waigiu, and New Guinea. Mr. Gould says (Handb. B. of Austral, ii. p. 263) that 

 he has seen specimens from every part of Australia, except the north coast, and Gilbert observed 

 it at- Swan River and Port Essington. In the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions it is replaced 

 by Totanus macularius. 



As may be inferred from the name, " Summer Snipe," by which it is tolerably well known 

 in many parts of the country, the present species is a summer visitant to our island; and this is 

 the case also in most parts of Europe. It usually arrives about the middle of April, and leaves 

 us again in September. It is not often met with on the sea-shore; but, like the Green Sand- 

 piper, it frequents the shores of streams, ponds, inland lakes, and is often seen on the muddy 

 banks of rivers, and especially affects places where the banks are flat, and where meadows and 

 bush-covered patches are in the immediate vicinity. It is also said to be fond of places where 

 there is a tolerably dense growth of willows or osiers, avoiding streams or lakes where the shores 

 are rugged or rocky. In many respects it differs not a little from most of the other Sandpipers. 

 When walking or standing it usually carries the body horizontal, and not erect, the breast being 

 rather depressed, so that the long tail is raised above it. It trips along for some distance with 

 grace and ease, jerking its tail and nodding its head, and reminds one not a little of the common 

 Wagtail, and is seldom seen for long standing quietly, but is continually on the move. Its flight 

 is rapid ; and it usually flies close above the surface of the water, often so close as nearly to touch 

 it with its wings. Its flight is not direct, but it moves during its course in various directions, like 

 the common Snipe ; and when flying its wings are held extended, the points bent downwards : 

 this latter is especially noticeable just before the bird settles. It is a shy and very wary bird, 

 and selects for a resting-place some spot where it is not easily seen ; and when disturbed it takes 

 wing, uttering its clear shrill cry, which resembles the syllables di di di uttered several times in 

 succession. During the breeding-season it pours forth, whilst on the wing, a shrill trilling song, 

 composed of the above syllables somewhat modulated. 



It breeds in quiet unfrequented places on the banks of a stream, often amongst the willow- 

 thickets ; and its nest is usually carefully concealed. The nest is either amongst the rubbish 



