were continually (ailing riotlma, Hies or other Insect* Hint settled on the beJtj probably attracting them
to the spof. A man who looked over a part of tho ground declared tliat at least a dozen thlltdptneri
had hen destroyed on his lionl in h ss than a week.
The Common Sandpiper swims nidi, and is an excellent diver when wounded. I have watched many
an inexperienced sportsman greatly excited by his frantic and unavailing efforts to secure a winged
bird winch bad fallen close to his boat. Bach time he stretched over to grasp the active swimmer it
would plunge under, with the ease and rapidity of a Guillemot, and, ducking from one side of the craft
to the other, would frequently succeed in evading capture. Unless winged, I have only on one or two
occasions noticed an adult taking to the water, though now and then they might be seen iu the act of
paddling across some small pool ur creek along the river-side by which they fed. While fishing on tho
Lyon, in Perthshire, in June lS(i7, n Merlin made a sudden dash al a Sandpiper skimming across the river
within twenty yards of where 1 stood. Instantly the bird dived below the surface, and did not emerge
again till the shelter of some stunted willow bushes (whoso branches overhung the water) had 0000
reached, Porcing my way an hour later through the thick cover to reach a pool lower down tho river,
I disturlivd, iu an open space, some living creature that appeared, as it rapidly threaded its way among
tho shrulis mid plants, to be cither a rat or a rabbit. On searching closely I came upon the uost of a
Sandpiper four eggs, and doublless it was the parent bird that bed attracted my attention. A
collector of eggs who happened to bo present was anxious to secure the clutch as specimens, and immediate
slops were taken to ensure the safety of his treasures till our return from fishing. A stoat or two had
shown themselves iu a stono dyke near the river-bank, and, in order to guard agaiust an attack by these
dcsli-ucfivo animals, a covering of coarse grass was first laid across the nest, aud next a heap of sand and
smalt stones was cautiously spread over to the depth of several inches. Late in the evening, on making
our way to remove tin' eggs we wore much astonished on discovering that the bird bad returned to its
nest and, in no inauner disconcerted by the change effected, hal scraped olf the sand and grass and was
again silting.
The young swim as soon as they leave the nest and arc capable of running along the banks of tho
streams and rivers. I have watched the downy brood washing and sporting in the pods, and the anxiety
displayed by the old birds has frequently drawn my attention to the small family secreting themselves iu
the water beneath tho roots of trees or some overhanging slab of rock to which they had made their
way, by diving or swimming, on the first signs of danger.
On ils arrival in tin- spring the Common Sandpiper is all extremely neat aud handsome bird. Tho
greenishduown tint of tho feathers on the hack is sulfused with a pinkish gloss, and contrasts admirably
with the pure white of the breast. The black markings on the liaek (somewhat resembling broad-pointed
arrow-heads) are clearly defined, and the whole appearand' differs greatly from the worn and faded slate
of plumage exhibited by the end of summer. The young in the immature dress arc deficient in the strong
markings on the back, the feathers being edged with delicate black lines. The colouring of the throat
and breast, as well as the hack of the head, is also more clouded. Shortly after breaking the shell tho
nestlings are covered on the upper parts wilh a greenisb-grcy down, variegated with occasional lighter tints,
speckled and streaked wilh dark brown. The throat, breast, aud belly are white, slightly stained at
limes by the action of the water.
GREENSHANK.
TOTJNUS CJNESCENS.
Is spring and again in autumn, in still greater numbers, this species is to be seen iu the southern and
eastern counties of England while on the passage to aud from its breeding-grounds in the far north.
Though the majority cross the sen, a considerable number rear (heiryoung in the more remote districts or
several counties in the Highlands as well as on some of tho Western Islands. Those that came under my
oli.ervalion during slimmer in the south wen' in every instance in immature plumage, plainly indionting
that the perfect adult dress is not assumed till after the second or third year.
Though it appears there is undisputable evidence that (he nest of this species has been repeatedly
found close to the edge of a Highland loch, those I met with were invariably placed on the driest
portions of the moors; and although small pools of rain-water might possibly have collerted in tho
adjacent peat-hulos, the nests were always at a considerable distance from either loch or river, never, to tho
best of my reoollectiou, nearer than a quarter of a mile. I remarked at a nest in the west of Horn ihlin that
bulb birds regularly left Ihc moors iu company and came down to the sea-shore to feed, frequenting both the
sandy bays and pools of sail water among the weed-grown slabs of rock. Throughout flic inland districts, such
as the central portions of Sutherland and Caithness, I hey wore usually found searching for food in the
vicinity or the lochs, along the river-sides, or by the pools, either on the Hoes or the open moorlands.
Though four is doubtless the full complement of eggs laid by the Greenshank, (ho first nest f met wilh
contained eight; these wore arranged with the centre egg balanced upright on the smaller end and the
others surrounding it, tho shape of the shells and the depth of the cradle allowing the formation of a
perfect circle. The old bird -at exceedingly close :md might have boon raptured on the nest, as
sho allowed her back to 1« stroked over two or three times before rising on wing and making off. In
many other instances where the nests wore frequently passed, the female look not the slightest notice of
intruders when inspected at the distance of a few yards. The nest with eight eggs previously referred
to was found in the west of Ross-shire in May 1868, and a month or so later I beard of another being
seen with the same number: the following year seven eggs aud one downy youngster just released from
the shell were observed by a keeper, with whom I was well .acquainted, on the moors lictwoen the
Crask aud Allnaharra iu Sutherland. In each of those cast's a couple of birds musi have laid in Ihc
same nest. In the shaded domicile of the Redshank, of which a far greater numlier have come under
my notice, I only once found so many eggs, while five is the most delected in the humble cradle
provided by tho I'ccwit for the accommodation of its brood.
Large monitors of Greenshanks intermixed with Kedlrgs and Shanks" were swarming on the Breydon
muds on the morning of the 20th of August, 1873. and a shot with the big gun aimed at one of the
latter unfortunately caused more slaughter than was anticipated, as, in addition to the specimen required,
• RMM Rivm kj ITIP RSYLII P W n> NW CKSWAM and Spotted BEAERAATS.