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allkn’s naturalist’s library. 
cerning its distribution during the nesting-season. It passes 
through the greater part of Eastern and Central Europe during 
migration, visiting the Mediterranean countries and occurring 
even as far south as Madagascar. It likewise appears to cross 
Central Asia to North-western India, and also visits Japan, 
China, and the Burmese provinces during the cold season. 
Habits. — The late Mr. Richard Dann contributed a very in- 
teresting article to Yarrell’s “ British Birds ” on the nesting of 
this species, which he had found in Lulea and Tornea-Eap- 
mark, as well as on the Dovrefjeld in Norway, where it arrived 
at the latter end of May. It frequented grassy morasses and 
swamps in small colonies, having the same habitat as the 
IVood-Sandpiper. On their first appearance, they were wild 
and shy, and similar in their liabits to otlier Sandpipers, feed- 
ing on the grassy borders of small pools and lakes in the 
morasses. On being disturbed they soared to a great height 
in the air, rising and falling suddenly like the Snipe, uttering 
the notes iwc-w/io, rapidly repeated. As the weather becomes 
warm, the habits of the species totally change, as it skulks and 
creeps through the dead grass, and allows itself to be follow'ed 
within a few yards : when flushed, it drops again a short 
distance off. 
Nest. — The following account is given by Mr. Wolley, who 
discovered the nest in Lapland : — “ The Broad-billed Sand- 
piper differs from other wading birds in the situation of its nest, 
choosing open soft places in the marsh, where there is little 
else than bog moss with a little growth of a kind of sedge, and 
on a low tuft, just rising above the water, its nest may be found 
often without much difficulty. . . . But it must not be 
supposed that this kind of bird-nesting is very easy work. The 
marshes where the Broad-billed Sandpipers are to be found are 
few and far between ; they arc soft and full of water, and often 
every step is a struggle, whilst the swarms of hungry gnats 
require almost individual attention. The sun is scorching at 
midday, but at midnight has not enough power to keep off an 
unpleasant chill. The country to be gone over is of vast extent, 
and the egg-season very short; sleep is seldom obtainable; a 
feverish feeling comes on, and present enjoyment soon ceases. 
It is just where the thickest clouds of gnats rise from the water. 
