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season, and dropping easily down, it often holds the wings straight up for some seconds, and even 

 when standing, thus showing the white under surface before closing them. 



" As its general habits resemble those of the Greenshank, so is its note very similar to that 

 of this bird ; and it must also for that reason be placed close to it. 



" It is supposed that it breeds on the Neusiedler Lake, and also in Upper Silesia, but 

 without proof; we can, however, state with more certainty that it occasionally breeds here in 

 Central Germany. As before stated, we once found in a small pond, half an hour's walk from 

 the Elbe, a pair which seemed to have paired, and showed all signs of intending to complete their 

 nesting-arrangements there." 



Prof, von Nordmann writes in Demidoff 's ' Voyage ' as follows : — 



" This bird, which belongs more particularly to Eastern Europe and Siberia, and is found 

 but rarely on the western side of the continent, is common, particularly in the spring, in the 

 marshes of the Black Sea. It arrives here in April; the flocks of this Sandpiper are always very 

 numerous, and spread all over New Eussia, and many are killed for sale in the Odessa market. 

 It is probable that it nests with us ; for I know for certain that it is found in the middle of May 

 in Bessarabia and in the Province of Cherson 



" In form and movements this bird exhibits much elegance. On its arrival in spring it 

 shows little fear ; and if one surprises several individuals on the edge of the water, and does not 

 hunt them down too eagerly, they take to the water, keeping close together, and save themselves 

 by swimming, rather than take to wing. 



"The Marsh Sandpiper is as good a swimmer as the different Phalaropes, to which in its 

 habits and many respects it bears much resemblance, apart from the form of the beak, which 

 is long and very slender. The flesh of this bird is exquisitely delicate. In spring the whole 

 body is covered with close fat, which can easily be detached from the flesh, and in plucking them 

 great caution must be used." 



■ Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1860, p. 344) says it is " abundant in March, April, and the early part 

 of May, on the race-course of Corfu. The habits of this species closely resemble those of the 

 Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus); but it is less shy, and not so clamorous. I have had 

 excellent opportunities of observing closely the habits of this and many other allied species 

 on the race-course, having sometimes seen, within a few yards of the spot on which I lay hidden, 

 Totanus glottis, T. stagnatilis, T. glareola, T. ochropus, Himantopus melanopterus, Tringa minuta, 

 Numenius phceopus, and Glareola pratincola." 



Captain G. E. Shelley kindly sends us the following note respecting its occurrence in Egypt 

 and Nubia : — 



" Moderately abundant both in Egypt and Nubia. They are distinguishable from Totanus 

 glottis at a considerable distance, from their more slender form as well as from their smaller size. 

 I only once met with a pair at the same pool, on the 28th April, but have on several occasions 

 found them in company with Totanus glareola. In 1868 I met with them only on one occasion." 



Mr. C. A. Wright writes from Malta that it " appears annually in spring and autumn, but 

 is not generally very common. Unlike most of its congeners it is very tame, and easily 

 approached. I have known it to crouch, as the Stints will sometimes do, and allow a person to 

 walk close past it without taking flight." 



