606 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS 



and 36.7x24.4 mm. Breeding -season. — From end of May to mid- 

 June in north Russia. Incubation. — Probably by both sexes as 

 both possess incubation patches, but all birds shot from nest 

 by Popham were males. Period unknown. Probably single 

 brooded. 



Food. — Apparently almost entirely insects, especially coleoptera. 



Distribution. — England. — Seven. Male and female Brookland 

 (Kent) May 23, 1912, male, 24, and female, 25, same place (ut 

 supra). Male May 26, male and female May 28, 1915, Rye (Sussex) 

 (T. Parkin, Brit. B., ix, p. 69). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in north-east Europe and northern 

 Siberia from Gulf of Bothnia to Kolyma basin, southwards to about 

 54° N. lat. in central Russia and west Siberia. Passes on migration 

 through Asia and east Europe, wintering in Eastern Archipelago 

 and Australia, also along shores of southern Asia, in north-east 

 Africa and small numbers S. Africa. Rare in middle and west 

 Europe : Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France. 



Genus TRINGA L. 



Tringa Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 148 (1758 — Type by tautonymy 

 tringa, i.e. T. ochropus). 



Bill long and slender, straight or slightly recurved, both 

 mandibles with longitudinal grooves. Bill hard, tip slightly de- 

 curved. Tarsus generally long, in incana, however, shorter and 

 stronger ; scutellated behind, but in one of the subspecies of incana 

 more or less reticulated. Hind toe always present. Web between 

 outer and middle toe distinct, between inner and middle only 

 indicated, but more conspicuous in the larger species. Wings long 

 and pointed, 1st developed primary longest. Sharpe and other 

 authors have split up the genus as here conceived into a number of 

 genera, mostly with one species each, but this makes study more 

 difficult. (Of these genera there is most excuse for Heteroscelus 

 for incana with short and strong legs, and Actitis for hypoleucos and 

 macularia with more pointed tail, but these characters are not 

 sufficient for generic separation, being approached or indicated in 

 other species.) 



Key to species of genus Tringa. 



, /Wing over 150 mm. 2 



\ Wing under 1 50 mm 7 



f Rump and. upper tail-coverts slate -grey like rest 

 „) of upper-parts T. incana, p. 635 



] Rump and upper tail-coverts entirely or partially 



[_ white ........ 3 



„ J Lower back brown 4 



\ Lower back white 5 



. /Wing over 170, bill over 45 mm T. melanoleuca, p. 623 



\ Wing under 170, bill under 45 mm. ... T. flavipes, p. 620 



