306 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



small flocks, some species frequenting marshy localities, others dry 

 and sandy districts. They are incessantly on the move, running, swim- 

 ming, and diving, all of which they perform with equal ease. Their 

 food is chiefly worms, insects, fish-spawn, and sometimes even small 

 fry and Crustacea. Their habits are peaceable and their movements 

 easy and graceful. They are gifted with a keen sight, for not even 

 the smallest insect can escape their vision. 



The Sandpipers are natives of the northern parts of the Old and 

 New World ; they visit France twice a year — in spring and autumn. 



Fig. 119. — Redshank. 



They breed in the north, and lay from three to five eggs. The 

 extreme delicacy of their flesh causes them to be much sought after 

 by epicures; they are, therefore, captured in every possible way. 

 Extinction will probably be the result. To gratify the tastes of the 

 gourmand and the bloodthirsty instincts of cruel men, the lovers 

 of Nature are destined to be deprived of one of the most innocent 

 and beautiful families of Birds. 



In France seven species of Sandpipers are known, varying in 

 size from that of the sparrow to that of the thrush. They are as 

 follows :— The Brown Sandpiper {Totanus fuscus), the Greenshank 

 {Totanus glottis), the Redshank {Totanus caledris, Fig. 119); the 



