THE BIRDS OF SGILLY. 341 



of the Common Sandpiper on the islands, namely, in 1857. It 

 is still apparently by no means common, but may sometimes be 

 mistaken for the Sanderling. Single specimens and small flocks 

 come in at least occasionally in August and early September. 

 The Wood-Sandpiper is a rare autumn casual in immature 

 plumage, and has occurred both on St. Mary's and Tresco. An 

 adult male was shot on August 29th, 1878. The Green Sand- 

 piper was first obtained by Pechell in 1857. It is an occasional 

 visitor on migration in early autumn, but, like most of the early 

 autumn birds of passage, does not figure much in the Tresco 

 game-book. A single example of the Solitary Sandpiper was 

 shot on the Lower Moors, St. Mary's, by Joe White on Sept. 19th, 

 1882. The Kedshank may frequently be seen from early autumn 

 to mid-winter, in small parties up to a dozen or fifteen, on the 

 ponds at Tresco. It has been killed during Christmas week on 

 St. Mary's. The Spotted Kedshank was seen by Jenkinson on 

 Tresco on Oct. 12th, 1865, and one was killed by him on Bryher 

 on Aug. 26th, 1870. The Greenshank may be seen every autumn 

 in parties of three up to a dozen or more flitting restlessly over 

 the surface of the Abbey Pools, or grouped on a granite block by 

 the water. On their first arrival they are very tame. The only 

 example of the Eed-breasted Snipe seen at Scilly was killed 

 beside the fresh-water pool on the Higher Moors, St. Mary's, by 

 Pechell, on Oct. 3rd, 1857. It was in immature plumage, and 

 arrived at a time when there was practically no immigration in 

 process, and, so far as known, no other Charadriidce arrived that 

 year during the first week in October. The Bar-tailed Godwit 

 is a regular autumn and winter visitor, occasionally in flocks, 

 and has been several times recorded in May, and at least twice 

 in June, but never in full summer plumage. The Black-tailed 

 Godwit is a much rarer bird. One was shot by Pechell in 1849 ; 

 one by Jenkinson in September, 1864 ; one in summer plumage 

 by Joe Smith on St. Mary's in April, 1871 ; one, also in summer 

 attire, on the Long Pool, Tresco, by David Smith in 1873 ; and 

 one was repeatedly seen on St. Mary's between April 8th and 

 12th, 1903. The Curlew is in evidence at Scilly all the year 

 round. In the winter it appears in large flocks on the beaches, 

 on the rocks by the shore, and also on farm-land, where it seems 

 to be continually turning over sheep's droppings in search of 



