TEREK 1 A CINEREA. 
839 
the following extract:— “ The note of the male, which is probably its pairing-call, is clear, loud, and full from 
the throat. & It is uttered, and' often repeated, from a stone, root of a tree, a hillock, or any similar elevated 
position, the bird moving its body and apparently exerting itself in calling. The note is of three syllables, 
and sounds like kuwitzzuu, kuwitzzziiu, kuwitzzzuii, or also gizzuiiud, gizzziii, gizsuid, the last syllable always 
risim- higher and being more drawn out ; sometimes a low, flute-like, melancholy note ( luihiaaa , hahiaaa, 
hahiaaa) Is uttered immediately after, when the former call has been often repeated The peasants call 
the bird, very correctly, after its note, Kuwitri, whereas they scarcely distinguish the other species of long-billed 
Sandpipers.” 
Nidification . — The Terek Sandpiper breeds in Northern Siberia and Northern Russia, but not south of 
lat. 60°; and it has been observed as high as lat. 70°. The latest notes which have been published on its 
breeding are those from the pens of Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown, who were so fortunate as to find 
it nesting in abundance at the mouth of the Dwina in June 1872. These gentlemen describe the nest as 
“ simply & a slight saucer-shaped hollow in the ground, lined with chips of w-ood and bits of thick reed, and is 
placed in open marshy parts of the alder thickets, by the sides of ‘ Kourias ’ or creeks, or in the saud amongst 
bent grass.” 
The eggs of this species are pointed ovals in shape, and of a stone-yellow ground-colour for the most part, 
though some are browner than others. They are rather openly marked with blotches of dark sepia over faded 
spots' of purple and bluish grey of several shades, which in some cases blends with the large blots of brown. 
Some eggs are distantly marked, while in others the colouring is chiefly at the large end in the form ot 
softened irregular clouds. In one or two specimens before me there are a few pencillings or streaks inter- 
mixed with the blotches, making the eggs decidedly handsome. Some measure 1*47 by 1*0 inch, others T55 
by T08 and l - 4 by l - 06. The series here described are in the collection, of Mr. Dresser. Messrs. Alston and 
Ilarvie Brown rightly observe that the eggs in many instances resemble those of the Common Sandpiper, 
and further remark that they bear no resemblance to those of Limosa. 
Genus TOTANUS*. 
Bill long or moderately so, slender, straight, in some slightly recurved ; both mandibles 
channelled in the basal half, the lower faintly so ; nostrils linear, placed near the margin, tip 
of the upper mandible slightly bent. Wings long and pointed, the 1st quill the longest ; tertials 
lengthened. Tail moderately short, scarcely exceeding the closed wings, rounded at the tip. 
Legs long ; the toes connected at the base by a small web, most developed between the outer 
and the middle toe. 
Sternum, as in other Scolopacine groups, variable, but usually with two emargmations or 
open foramina. 
* The uresent genus comprises a number of birds beariug, in outward form, a general resemblance to one another, 
, . , .. n differing from each other in some point, either as regards bdl and feet, or change of plumage m summer. 
Thetos aberrant fonns under consideration in this work are :-the first, by reason of its bill and the smgle notch in the 
\ the Common Redshank, on account of its highly-webbed feet ; and the Green Sand pi per, as also possessmg 
1 single emargination in the sternum and a very abnormal mode of nidification. 
