78 
J. E. LITTLEBOY—NOTES ON BIRDS 
It belongs to the large class of waders which visit our shores on 
migration. It is most abundant in spring and autumn, but is 
occasionally taken in the winter. It has never been known to 
breed in Great Britain. 
6. The Black-tailed God wit ( Limosa JEgocephala). — A black¬ 
tailed godwit was taken on the reservoirs in September, 1886. 
This handsome bird is nearly allied to the species last mentioned, 
but is less abundant. Like its congener, it is a spring and autumn 
migrant, but differs from it in having occasionally nested in the 
eastern counties. Two hundred years ago Sir Thomas Browne wrote 
of it as follows :—“ Godwits are taken chiefly on marsh land, they 
are accounted the daintiest dish in England.” 
7. The Wood-Sandpiper ( Totanus Glareola). —A wood-sandpiper 
was shot in the same locality in August, 1886. This elegant little 
bird must also be recorded as a spring and autumn migrant, although, 
on one occasion, it has been known to nest in Northumberland. 
Its English name appears to be a misnomer; it does not frequent 
woodland districts, its favourite haunts being * wide open moors, 
where little ponds of water are to be found, half concealed in willow 
bushes. 
8. The Marsh-Sandpiper ( Totanus stagnatilis). —The occurrence 
of the marsh-sandpiper is an event not only of local but of national 
interest. Bespecting it, Mr. Bothschild writes to me as follows :— 
“ Last October [1887] I shot a bird which I took to be an immature 
or winter-plum aged greenshank, but I since find that it is a specimen 
of the marsh-sandpiper. It is not only the first killed in this county, 
but the first killed in Great Britain.” The marsh-sandpiper, writes 
Dr. Bree,f inhabits the north of Europe, migrating along the rivers 
which flow eastward and south, more especially those that empty 
themselves into the Black and Caspian Seas. It comes irregularly 
and rarely into Erance and Italy, but more frequently into Greece. 
Lord Lilford states j that it is abundant in March, April, and the 
early part of May, on the. racecourse at Corfu. Its habits closely 
resemble those of the green sandpiper, but it is less shy and not so 
clamorous. [The bird was shot near the reservoirs.— Ed.] 
9. The Sanderlino ( Calidris aremrici). —The sanderling is re¬ 
ported to be fairly common on the reservoirs, during the period of 
its spring and autumn migrations. It is to be met with during the 
winter on most of our coasts; it is a shore-bird; it loves a sandy 
beach, and at low water greedily devours the minute shellfish and 
Crustacea generally to be found in such localities. Its eggs have 
only been obtained very occasionally, but it is believed to breed on 
the shores of the Arctic Ocean and in Iceland. 
10. Temminck’s Stint ( Tringa Temminchi). —A Temminck’s stint 
was shot on the reservoirs in September, 1887. It is preserved in 
Mr. Bothschild’s collection. This somewhat rare bird is the smallest 
of our British sandpipers. It visits our shores in spring and autumn, 
on its migration to and from its breeding-grounds in the far north. 
* Seebohm, ‘ British Birds,’ vol. iii, p. 133. 
+ 1 Birds of Europe,’ vol. iv, p. 62. j lb., vol. ii, p. 344. 
