THE WOOD TATTLER. 
137 
frequents pools and small shallow streams ; is solitary, bnt 
sometimespairs before leaving us ; and when disturbed makes a 
shrill whistling note as it flies. According to Temminck, it is 
dispersed over the greater part of Europe during its autumn 
and spring migrations, and nestles in the sand, or among 
the grass near the water, and lays from three to five eggs 
of a whitish green, marked with brown spots. Selby, who 
has met with it in August, says that it runs with great 
activity, flirting its tail in the same manner as the common 
Sandpiper. When flushed, it utters a shrill whistle, and 
generally flies low, skimming over the surface of the water, 
and following with precision all the bends and angles of 
the stream. 
The Wood Tattler, Yarrell's W ood Sandpiper, is smaller 
than the last species, which it closely resembles, being 
about nine inches in length. Macgillivray says that ^ this 
species occurs, accidentally as it were, on the southern 
and eastern coasts of England, in the course of its autumnal 
and vernal migrations, and is still less frequently met with 
than the Green Sandpipers. It is said to be pretty common 
in the southern and western parts of Europe, but to be 
seldom met with in France and Germany. I have seen 
specimens from Northern India, and Mr. Selby says he has 
some from the Cape of Good Hope.' 
The heathy tracks over which are dispersed peat bogs 
and shallow pools of water, in the southern and eastern 
parts of Dutch Brabant, are said to be favourite breeding 
grounds of these birds, whose nest is generally placed at a 
short distance from the water, among stunted heath, or 
scrubby plants of the bog myrtle, or among coarse grass 
and rushes. It is placed in a hollow, and is formed of dry 
grass and other plants. The eggs are four in number, of a 
pale greenish white, spotted and speckled with dark reddish 
brown. 
The White-breasted Weet-Weet (Actitis ht/polencos), 
sometimes called the Common Sandpiper, or Summer 
Snipe ; Willy Wicket, Water Junkit, Fiddler. 
The Spotted Weet-Weet {Actitis viacidaria), some- 
times called the Spotted Sandpiper. 
