136 
THE GREEN TATTLER. 
as in Lincolnshire. It is known in tlie south of France 
and Italy, and specimens have been received from Tangiers 
and Trebizond. I\[r. Strickland states that it is a common 
bird on the marshes of Smyrna. Its usual length is about 
eleven inches ; it is a good swimmer, and sometimes perches 
on trees. According to Montagu, it makes a slight nest 
of coarse grass near the moist parts or most boggy places 
in the fens, and begins to lay early in May ; the eggs arc 
pale red, or dull white, tinged with green, blotched, spotted, 
and speckled with dark red brown. 
In the marshes of Norfolk and Suffolk, this is said to be 
the most common kind of wader ; it is very troublesome to 
sportsmen, flying round them, and uttering an incessant 
shrill whistle, which alarms all the other birds near the 
spot. Selby says that, when disturbed from its nest, and 
as long as the young birds are unable to fly, the old ones 
are very vociferous, and wheel around the intruder in 
circles, making frequent stoops, as if to strike at the head, 
like the common Lapwing. 
Macgillivray describes this bird as much more vigilant 
and suspicious than the Sandpipers and Plovers. Its flight 
is light, rapid, wavering, as if undecided, and being per- 
formed by quick jej'ks of the wings, bears some resemblance 
to that of a pigeon. It runs with great celerity, and is in 
every way remarkable for its activity, which becomes al- 
most ludicrous when it is picking up its food on a beach 
washed by a high surf, its movements being then executed 
with astonishing rapidity, as it follows the retiring and 
retreats before the advancing waves. 
The Green Tattler, called by Yarrell the Green Sand- 
piper, is smaller than either of the Tattlers yet described, 
being little over ten inches in length. Black, greenish 
brown, and grey of various shades, constitute the colours of 
the plumage where it is not quite white, as on the breast, 
imder parts of the body and the rump. An elegantly 
formed bird this, not known to breed with us, although by 
no means very imcommon during the period of its visit to 
this country, which extends from about the middle of 
September to the end of April. Montagu says that it 
