376 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



than four nests, one containing three eggs, two but two eggs, and the 

 fourth only one egg. Three of these nests were hollows scratched 

 in the sand (in two cases amongst the debris thrown up by the 

 tide), with a few little pieces of broken shell scattered over the 

 bottom of the hollow ; the fourth nest was in a patch of shingle, 

 and was carefully paved all over with small flat stones. These 

 nests were all practically the same size, about 7 in. diameter by 

 lg-in. deep. 



Arnside. I saw one pair of Oystercatchers here, which had 

 either young birds or eggs, near some marshy land along the 

 estuary of the Kent. 



Common Snipe (Gallinago coelestis). — I put up a single bird 

 of this species near Ravenglass in some marshy land ; and I also 

 saw the bird at Arnside. 



Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleacus) . — Boot. There 

 were a pair or two of these birds round the edges of most of the 

 tarns in the hills. On the edge of Devoke Water I found an old 

 bird with nestlings just able to run. The down of the young 

 was a reddish sandy-brown colour, with sepia streaks and spots; 

 the bill was black, and the feet and legs were a dull greyish 

 flesh-colour. The old bird made a great fuss while I was looking 

 at the young ones, coming within two or three yards of me, and 

 uttering a loud piping note all the time. 



Arnside. I found a nest of this species in some marshy 

 ground near Foulshaw Moss. The bird sat very close, and only 

 flew off when I was within a pace of the nest. It flew straight 

 away, and did not come back either while I was examining the nest, 

 or was in the vicinity of it. The nest was rather a deep hollow 

 scratched out amongst a thick growth of sorrel and grass, which 

 quite concealed the eggs when the bird flew off. It measured 

 4 in. diameter by 2 in. deep, was lined with a few pieces of dead 

 grass, and contained four eggs. 



Redshank (T. calidris). — I saw a few pairs of these birds 

 at Ravenglass and at Arnside, where they had evidently been 

 breeding ; but there were no great numbers at either place. 



Common Curlew (Numenius arquata). — There were flocks of 

 Curlews on the coast of Walney Island and at Ravenglass. 



Boot. There were here several pairs of breeding birds 

 about the hills. One pair which I watched for some time had 



