SCOLOPACHLE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — RHYACOPHILUS. 
283 
and axillars more narrowly barred with white. Winter plumage : Similar to 11. solitarius, except 
as pomted out above. 
The introduction of this well-known European species into the list of American birds rests 
upon the circumstance of a single stuffed specimen, said to have been killed in Nova Scotia, having 
come into the possession of J. Edmund Hurting, Esq., the well-known authority on the Limicolce. 
The collection of which it formed a part was received from a responsible dealer direct from Nova 
Scotia. The skin had evidently been prepared by the same hand as the others of the collection, 
which were all American species, so that there can be no reason to doubt the authenticity of the 
ascribed locality. (Cf. Brewer, “Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club,” III. Jan. 1878, p. 49.) 
The Green Sandpiper, or White-tailed Tattler of Europe, was included by Nuttall 
as among the birds of North America. It is also given by Richardson in his “Fauna 
Boreali- Americana,” but was not included by Mr. Lawrence in the “Pacific Railroad 
Report,” Vol. IX. Nuttall states that two specimens had been obtained at Hudson’s 
Bay, but he does not mention the name of his informant. It is now restored to the 
list of North American birds on the authority of J. Edmund Halting, Esq., who in 
March, 1873, wrote to Professor Baird from London that he had recently received 
from Mr. IT. Whitely, a respectable dealer at Woolwich, a small parcel of North 
American skins which had been sent to him from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and that 
among them Avas an example of this bird. Upon inquiry, he was assured by Mr. 
Whitely that the skin came to him from Halifax, and that it had been prepared 
there. Mr. Harting regards this as the first authentic instance of the occurrence of 
the Green Sandpiper in North America. 
• According to Yarrell, the habits of this bird are as yet only imperfectly under- 
stood. In England it appears to be most plentiful in spring and autumn, a ferv 
remaining there to breed, but the greater part going farther north, and probably 
returning Avitli their young. An occasional specimen of this bird is not infrequently 
met during the Avinter months. In some of its habits it resembles our Solitary Tattler, 
frequenting the sides of shallow streams and the banks of rivers and inland lakes and 
ponds, not being usually found so near the sea as are the other Sandpipers. When 
running it spreads and flirts up its tail like the European Redshanks (T. calidris). 
Its food consists of worms and insects. By some it is known as the Whistling Sand- 
piper, its note — which is a shrill whistle — being thought to sound like cheet-cheet- 
clieet. 
Mr. Lubbock informed Yarrell that a pair of this species built its nest in a hol- 
low on the side of a claypit in Norfolk, in the autumn of 1839, and that the bird Avas 
common during summer and autumn, upon a small stream near Attleburgh. The 
same gentleman also stated that he had killed a specimen on the 4tli of January, 1837, 
Avhen there was a deep suoav on the ground, and all the Snipes had b6en driven out 
of the country by the severity of the Aveather. He was nearly certain that it remains 
in England all the year, Avitli the exception of that period in spring and early sum- 
mer during which it withdraws to rear its young. The lltli of April is the latest 
time in spring at which he has observed any. A neplieAv of Mr. Lubbock informed 
him that on the 23d of July he suav six of this species together, and that they appeared 
to be trvo old birds with their four young. This bird is also said to be not uncommon 
along the whole line of the southern marine counties of England, from Romney Marsh, 
in Kent, to Sussex, Hampshire, and thence to the Land’s End. Mr. EdAvard Double- 
day saAV several pairs about small streams in the vicinity of SnoAvdon in summer ; and 
tAvo pairs Avere observed near Capel Cnrig. It is also a summer visitor in Ireland. Mr. 
Henry Doubleday informed Yarrell that in November, 1840, he shot a Green Sand- 
piper in the vicinity of Epping. The bird Avas only slightly wounded, and Avas kept 
