Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/229

Rh Crane. Grus communis.— On coming in to one of our meals at Fokstuen on June 15th we were told that a Crane (Trauen) had passed over the house: we had a long walk in the direction it had taken, but our eyes were never gladdened by a sight of it.

Common Redshank. Totanus calidris.—First observed May 28th between Jerkin and Fokstuen, and on June 8th some half-dozen were seen feeding near one of the pools on the marsh. They did not appear to be very plentiful, and we did not take any eggs ourselves, though on June 14th a boy brought in a nest of three.

Wood Sandpiper. Totanus glareola.—This, next to the Snipe, was the commonest species of the waders on the marsh, but somehow or other the nests were difficult to find. We only had the luck to get one, containing two eggs, on the 5th of June. It consisted of a rather deep depression with a few straws at the bottom, and the grass turned round and interwoven a little at the top, and was on a small grassy tussock.

Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus.—Two pairs were seen on the banks of the River Driva at Drivstuen, May 22nd. One of these, being shot at, was only winged, got into the water, and swam away very vigorously out of reach.

Ruff. Machetes pugnax.—A male was shot on Fokstuen marsh on June 9th, the ruff and caruncles being fully developed.

Great Snipe. Scolopax major.—We did not see this species before June 9th, at Fokstuen, though during the night, at Jerkin, they were often heard. Three nests, each with four eggs, and all about a week sat, were obtained on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of June; they consisted of slight depressions on stumps in open wet places, with a few straws at the bottom.

Common Snipe. Scolopax gallinago.—These were exceedingly numerous on the marshes, and scores might be seen and heard drumming away at the same time. The first eggs were procured June 2nd; these were a few days sat, and none that we got during our stay were entirely fresh, always four in number, and the slightest possible nest. In Faroe, in 1872, I took the most elaborate Snipe's nest I ever saw. It was as round as a Blackbird's, and as deep, constructed very neatly of dry bents, and well buried in tall grass; there were four eggs, half-hatched, the date being the 9th of June, and the bird was secured as she limped away with trailing wings.