PLATE XXXII. 



TKINGA CRASSIROSTRIS (Temm. and Schleg.). 

 GREAT SANDPIPER. Genus: Tringa. 



THIS is one of the most singular species of Tringce, equal in size to the Ruff; but beyond this easily 

 observable fact little is known respecting it. It is found to inhabit China and Japan as well as 

 Australia, and is much used as an artistic model in decoration by the ingenious Mongols, its varied plumage 

 lending itself happily to their imitative art. 



Crown of the head and the neck, brownish-grey, each feather with a stripe of brown down the 

 centre ; back and wings, brown, broadly margined with brownish-grey ; primaries, blackish-brown ; rump, 

 white, each feather tipped with brown ; tail, brownish-grey ; feathers of the breast, dark brown, with a 

 crescent of white at the extremity ; abdomen and under tail-coverts, white ; flanks, mottled with brown ; 

 bill, feet, and irides, olive. 



Total length, 9^ inches. {Gould.) 



Habitats : Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Rockingham Bay, 

 Wide Bay District, New South Wales, West and South-West Australia, south coast of New Guinea. 

 (Ramsay.) 



GENUS GLOTTIS (Nilsson). 



THE one species known to Australia is apparently identical with the Glottis canescens of the British 

 Islands, and is called Totanus canescens by Ramsay. 



GLOTTIS GLOTTOIDES (Gould). 



(IREENSHANK. Gexus : Glottis. 



BEFORE us we have an example of a wandering tribe that is found in every country of Europe, 

 Asia, Africa, and Australia ; and like all nomadic tribes it is nowhere plentiful, nor can its 

 presence be depended upon in any given locality, being always of an uncertain character. 



It frequents most commonly the sea shore, but is not averse to penetrating arms of the sea and 

 lagoons, though it prefers sandy points and spits, where it associates with the Whinibrel, Curlew, and 

 Oyster Catcher. 



Family parties of from seven to ten may be seen, but more often the Greenshank is to be found 



in pairs. 



It is a peculiarity of the Sandpipers to undergo many changes of plumage, the feathers darkening 

 and becoming more blotched and spotted during the breeding season than at any other, and this species 

 is no exception. 



