155 



For the following note we are indebted to Mr. Thomas Robson, of Ortakeny : — 



" The Marsh Sandpiper is not uncommon in Turkey, Asia Minor, and South-eastern Europe. 

 Many specimens are shot for food during the autumn migration. They are found on the margins 

 of fresh- and salt-water rivers and seas, where muddy marshes trend to the water's edge. They 

 also wade in shallow waters inland, seeking food ; they rest within the edges of marshes with 

 muddy bottoms, on one leg ; and when disturbed they hop out and rise from one leg. The adult 

 birds in summer plumage are much more spotted than younger specimens, especially on the 

 shoulders." 



Eespecting the breeding-habits of this species but little is on record. As above quoted, 

 Naumann considers that it occasionally breeds in Central Germany, but is unable to give any 

 authentic instance. That it breeds in the vast marsh country of Hungary is certain. Dr. 

 Baldamus (Naumannia, 1852, p. 82) found it there in the middle of June, and states that a 

 friend of his had taken the nest there ; and Mr. Johann von Frivaldsky, of the Pesth Museum, 

 assured Dresser that it breeds, even not rarely, in some parts of Hungary, and also showed him a 

 series of its eggs in his possession, one of which he kindly gave to him. This egg, taken at Apaj 

 in 1858, measures 1-jf in. by 1^, is pear-shaped like other Sandpipers' eggs, has the ground- 

 colour dull clay-yellow, and is spotted all over with dark umber spots, being in fact a miniature 

 of the egg of our common Eedshank. 



With regard to the colouring of the soft parts of the present species some different state- 

 ments have been published. Naumann, for instance, says that " the beak is black, on the hard 

 portion shining like horn, towards the base, particularly on the under mandible, much lighter 

 bluish, greenish, or reddish. Legs much the same as those of Totanus glottis ; general colour dark 

 bluish green, becoming yellowish at the root of the toes and on the soles, the toe-joints darker, 

 claws blackish brown. Young birds have the legs lighter, greenish blue-grey in colour." Von 

 Nordmann in Demidoff's ' Voyage,' on the other hand, says, " I found in several adult birds killed 

 in the spring of 1838 in full breeding-plumage, the feet not bluish green, as Naumann and 

 Temminck state, but reddish black, slightly tinged with greenish on the articulations. It seems, 

 however, that the greenish feet belong only to young birds." 



In the Plate are represented figures of the Marsh Sandpiper in full summer and winter 

 plumage, sent to us by Mr. T. Robson, of Ortakeny. The descriptions are from the same birds. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 



a. Guiksa, Asia Minor (/. Robson). b. Khathanc, near Constantinople (Robson). c. Sarepta (Kutter). 

 d. Damara-land (Andersson). 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a. Egypt (Stafford Allen). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 

 a. Memphis (H. B. T). b. Etawah, N.-W. India (W. E. Brooks). 



E Mus. J. E. Hurting, 

 a. Malta (Leadbeater) . b. Ismid, Asia Minor (Robson). c. Egypt (Shelley) . d,e. Damara-land (Andersson). 



