MARSH SANDPIPER. 63 



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, T. glottis, T. 

 stagnatilis , T. glareola, T. ochropus, Himantopus mela- 

 nopterus, Tringa minuta, Numenius pliceopus, and 

 Glareola pratincolaP 



It is included by Naumann among the birds of 

 Germany, but it is not mentioned in the "Fauna Beige," 

 nor by Dr. Machado in his list of Andalusian birds, 

 though it may be expected to occur, I think, in Spain. 



I have been favoured by C. Wright, Esq., with the 

 following note of its occurrence in Malta: — "The 

 Marsh Sandpiper, although not common, is pretty well 

 known to the native sportsmen, who have given it a 

 name which implies that it attracts other birds, or that 

 when it is seen other game may be expected. What 

 habit gave rise to its singular local appellation, or 

 what influence it exercises over other species, I cannot 

 say. Probably none at all. A few individuals are 

 shot every year in spring and autumn, and sometimes 

 they appear in small flocks. They are very easily 

 approached, and not readily scared. An instance 

 occurred in 1860 of one allowing itself to be taken by 

 the hand in some short grass, in which it tried to 

 elude its pursuer by running Rail-fashion, instead of 

 taking to flight like other birds of its genus. It was 

 not wounded, and did not appear to be exhausted, as, 

 when set free in a room, it ran about briskly, its 

 neck drawn in close to its shoulders. In April of 

 the same year a flock of about twenty appeared at a 

 marshy place at the head of the Great Harbour of 

 Valetta, and it was not before seven or eight of their 

 number were successively shot at and killed that the 

 rest made off." 



