COMMON SANDPIPEK. 



GRALLATORES. SCOLOPACIDJE. 



PLATE CLXXXII. 



COMMON SANDPIPER. 



TOTANUS HYPOLEUCUS. 



We are now called upon to describe this very elegant little 

 summer visitant to Great Britain, the Common Sandpiper, or 

 Summer Snipe, which must remind most men, that have ever 

 indulged in an excursion along our beautiful rivers, of quiet 

 enjoyment ; since there this bird is generally to be seen on the 

 gravelly banks close to the water, running about incessantly 

 in search of food, or flying to some short distance uttering 

 its pleasing whistling note. This species is found throughout 

 the British Isles, and is equally common in most parts of 

 Europe and Asia, from north to south ; it is also met with 

 in some parts of America and Africa. Although it is a well- 

 known bird, we are not aware that it is anywhere met with 

 in great numbers : on the banks of the Thames we have 

 seen, in one or two instances, a dozen or fourteen together. 



About the month of April the Sandpiper arrives in this 

 country from the south, and remains with us until August 

 and September ; after which time it is rarely seen, unless the 

 autumn is very fine. In the spring of the year the present 

 species arrives with us singly, or at most in pairs, and it is 

 only about the latter part of their sojourn with us that they 

 are seen in small flocks, but even then at most not exceed- 

 ing twenty or thirty. Like most others of its tribe, this 



