GREEN SANDPIPER. 
TOTJNUS OCIIROPUS. 
I CAN give uo fresh information regarding the distribution of this speeies over the British Islands ; during the 
years spent shooting and eollecting in the Highlands, and also in the south of Scotland in East Lothian, I 
never caught a glimpse of a Green Sandpiper. Gullane Links and the glens of several of the larger rivers (such 
as the lay, the Spey, and the Beauly with their tributaries) were haunts that might have been imagined 
attractive at one season or another ; still these conspicuous birds escaped observation. 
Ihe furUiest north that I met with this Sandpiper was in the valley of the Esk, a few miles inland from 
B lathy m lorkshire; parts of the wild glen through which the river flows towards the North Sea were 
densely wooded, and these proved to be favourite resorts of the birds. When alarmed they frequently appeared 
to fly out from the upper branches of some of the larger trees; being, however, at that time unacquainted 
with the breeding-habits of tliis species, I made no attempts to search for any nests in which their eggs or 
young might be concealed. These observations were taken early in June 1862, the time of year at which the 
birds might natm-ally be supposed to be engaged in breeding-operations. It is also recorded in the fourth 
edition of Yarrell that the Green Sandpiper was several times shot, in all cases during the month of June, in 
the neighbourhood of Hunmanby near Scarborough, the locality being only a few miles to tbe south of where 
met with the birds. In addition to these remarks the following statement occurs “ The keeper there says 
they breed in old Crows’ ne.sts; he has seen them come off from the nests.” As I repeatedly watched 
them myself in a wooded district at no great distance, and the keeper referred to seems to have been 
acquainted with their habits, there can, I am of opinion, be little doubt the birds have now and then bred in 
us country. There are also statements in the third edition of Knox’s ‘ Ornithological Rambles in Sussex ’ 
lat would lead one to believe that this species had occasionally remained through the summer near Midhurst 
in Sussex, though for what purpose it would be hazardous to express an opinion. 
Tlic only Green Sandpiper exhibiting tl.e perfect mature summer plumage' that I obtained was shot as he 
rose from the marsh-dyke surrounding tbe south side of Hiokling Broad on tbe 28th of May, 1873. Dnrin- the 
latter part of June and throughout July adults may be seen singly or in pairs scattered over several pjts of 
the Suffolk marshes near Yarmouth; these arc probably birds lately returned to this country from their 
ree mg- lauuts m the far north of Europe, While collecting specimens on two or throe occasions in 1871 
pu up as many as four or live pairs and a few single birds along the dykes or in the damp slades in these 
mars es ; the feathers of all procured for examination at this time were much frayed and worn, and the gloss 
on e p umage, so striking in summer, had entirely disappeared. A few young birds are ocoasionallv 
noticed about Breydon mudflats ; this speeies, however, appears to prefer a grass-marsh or the banks of a 
vatei-dyke lor a feeding-ground. On the 28th of August, 1871, I shot a very small one, evidently a bird of 
e year, as it flew past the punt over the ronds on the north side of Breydon; this speciinen was in verv 
gy plumage and in poor condition, giving evidence of having met with rough usage, which might possibly 
