GREEN SANDPIPER.

Totanus ochropus, Temm.

Le Chevalier Cul blanc.

ALTHOUGH we believe that this delicate species frequently passes the summer in Wales and other mountainous
districts of Great Britain, and consequently breeds there, we are not in possession of sufficient facts to war-
rant us in stating positively that such is the case. We are strengthened in this opinion, however, by the
circumstance of Mr. Doubleday, an accurate observer of nature, having informed us that he has observed
it flying over the smaller streams in the neighbourhood of Snowdon in the middle of summer. It generally
arrives in Britain at the latter end of September, when it disperses either singly or in pairs over nearly
every part of our island, more particularly its interior portions, but always in very small numbers. It is roe
frequently met with during its autumnal and spring migrations, and appears to give preference to the edges
of small ponds, rivulets, and ditches, particularly those which are secluded: its habits in this respect differ
very considerably from those of most of the other members of its family, which resort to the sea-beach and
the sides and mouths of large rivers as favourite places of abode.

The snow-white rump of the Green Sandpiper renders it a conspicuous object when flushed, at which time
it utters a shrill whistling note, from which circumstance it is known to many persons, particularly sportsmen,
by the name of the Whistling Snipe: it runs with great activity, but generally flies low, skimming over the
surface of the water, and following the bends and angles of the stream. It possesses an extensive range of
habitat, being dispersed over the whole of Kurope, the greater part of Asia, and Africa; but it is not found
in America, as most naturalists have asserted it to be, its place there being supplied by a nearly allied but
totally distinct species. It differs from the Wood Sandpiper in its larger size, its shorter tarsi, and in the
more diminutive spotting of the upper surface.

According to M. Temminck, the nest is made by the side of a stream, and the eges are greenish white
blotched with brown.

The sexes are so nearly alike in size and colour that a description of both is quite unnecessary.

The top of the head, back of the neck, and upper surface olive brown ; the back, the scapularies, and most
of the wing-feathers marked at their edges with minute spots of yellowish white ; quills dark brown ; sides of
the chest and flanks longitudinally streaked and spotted with brown; rump, under surface, and tail white, the
latter having the four central feathers strongly barred with black ; feet and legs olive; bill black with a tinge
of olive; irides dark brown.

 

WOOD SANDPIPER.

Totanus Glareola, Temm.

Le Chevalier sylvain.

Tuts species has been so frequently confounded with the preceding, that we are induced to figure both on the
same Plate, in order to enable our readers more readily to distinguish their differential characters. There is
no difference in the colouring of the sexes of either species, and as their plumage is not influenced by the sea-
sons or other causes, we trust our Plate will illustrate every feature necessary to render their distinctness
sufficiently apparent.

The Wood Sandpiper is still more rarely seen in the British Islands than its near ally, but in every other
particular the history of the preceding species is applicable to the present; it 1s, however, even more widely
dispersed, as is proved by its being found not only over the whole of the Asiatic continent, but in most of the
islands of the Pacific Ocean also, which we believe is not the case with the Green Sandpiper.

A streak of brown passes between the bill and the eyes; crown of the head and sides of the neck brown,
streaked with a darker tint; whole of the breast and scapularies dark brown, the edge of each feather being
spotted with greyish white ; lower part of the rump and the tail white, the latter numerously barred with
brown; legs and feet dark olive ; bill black; trides dark brown.

We have figured each species of the natural size.

 

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