282 SANDPIPER. 



the tail, which it is continually moving, even when running: they 

 are rarely seen except in pairs, but said to breed in great numbers 

 on the banks of the lakes in Scotland : it is capable of swimming 

 when accident obliges it so to do, and will also dive occasionally, 

 especially if shot, and not killed ; uses the stratagem of alternately 

 diving and rising again to the surface, like a web-footed bird ; has 

 been known also to perch on a dead twig or rail ; called in England 

 the Summer Snipe. Is frequently met with in France, coming in 

 May, and departing in September: likewise found in the northern 

 latitudes of Siberia, as far as Kamtschatka; to the south reaching to 

 the Caspian Sea : frequent in the Province of Andalusia, in Spain, 

 and one of the most common at Gibraltar, in the autumn and winter, 

 on all the shores, feeding on sand shrimps, and other water insects. 

 Is an inhabitant of India, as various drawings from thence prove; is 

 there called Purra Raguna, in some drawings Douray : is found also 

 in America, seen in the Chateaux Bay to the north, but the colour 

 of the legs is yellowish, though, in respect to the plumage, much 

 the same as in that of Europe ; such an one is in the collection of 

 Mr. M'Leay, who received it from Berbice, by the name of Doeria • 

 we have also seen a specimen from Cayenne ; in both of these the 

 legs were very pale, or straw-colour. 



A. — Size of the Common one. Plumage above fine glossy 

 greenish brown, marked on the back and wings with dusky spots, 

 bordered below with dusky white, in this differing from the first, 

 in which those parts are crossed only with fine dusky lines ; scapu- 

 lars as long as the quills, the latter black, and a trifle longer than 

 the tail ; all but the two outer feathers of the last plain dusky green, 

 the two outer white, crossed with seven or eight dusky bars ; shape 

 rounded at the end ; legs pale green. 



Inhabits India, found at Cawnpore, in November; known by 

 the name of Sirseea or Sisseea. — General Hardwicke. 



