BIRDS 393 



four or five days earlier than this bird generally appears with 

 us. In 1889 a clutch of fresh eggs were taken on the Gelt on 

 the 10th of May, and these are as early as any that I have 

 found or heard of. The eggs are often laid at some distance 

 from water, though more usually on the banks of stream or 

 tarn. One picturesque nest was placed in a nursery garden 

 between two rows of strawberry plants. I have observed the 

 old birds perching on trees on a good many occasions, and even 

 when they had neither eggs nor young. The birds that breed 

 on our higher lands descend to the sea almost as soon as their 

 young are able to fly strongly, and may often be heard calling 

 on dark nights as they pass over. For example, on July 28, 

 1888, at 11.30 P.M., wind E. to N.E., and much rain, I clearly 

 distinguished the voices of the Curlew and Common Sandpiper 

 among other species passing over Carlisle. The same was ob- 

 served on the 21st July 1888, and on a good many other 

 occasions. Almost the only ornithological observation con- 

 tributed to our knowledge of Lakeland by the late James 

 Cooper, recorded too by the old gentleman in his 84th year, 

 related to this species : ' It was early in April while angling in 

 the Petteril, near Carlisle, when for the first time that year I 

 noticed a Common Sandpiper, which was sitting on a bed of 

 gravel near the brink of the river. As I approached, it flew across 

 to the opposite side and sat down on a stump of the weiring 

 made to defend the bank of the pool, which is deep and the 

 stream rapid. It had not been there more than a minute 

 when a Sparrow-hawk swept over a high hedge close by; 

 observing this, the Sandpiper dropped off the stump into the 

 pool, like a piece of lead, and the hawk went on ; the bird then 

 came cautiously out on to the gravel bed it had left on perceiv- 

 ing my approach.' 1 In 1890 I found this Sandpiper frequent- 

 ing the creeks of Eockliffe marsh as early as July 9 th, in the 

 family parties which frequent our coast-line until the end of 

 September. Stragglers linger into October, but I have never 

 met with this Wader in Lakeland during the winter. 

 1 Zoologist, 1876, p. 5126'. 



