SCOLOPACIDAE—SANDPIPERS.
251
[1858], and another in the following year, on the Blackwater. King de-
scribes it (20) as " not uncommon" round Sudbury, and Mr. Grubb also
mentions it (39) as occurring on his ground there. Mr. Buxton says (47. 96)
it is "occasionally seen in spring and autumn by Leytonstone Pond, [by]
the waters in Wanstead Park, and by the Roding. I saw one last year [? 1884]
by Baldwin's Hill Pond." Round Orsett, it is uncommon (Sackett). Mr. Hope
writes that it is common in all the marsh ditches on the coast during migration,
but he has never known it nest there.
Green Sandpiper: Helodromas ochropus. Locally, "Will
White " (E. A. F.) and " Black Snipe."
This mysterious bird has been met with in Essex in every month
in the year, except perhaps January, February, and March, as the
following records will show; yet its eggs are not known ever to have
been taken in Britain. With us, it is most often seen in July
and August, though it is not uncommon in May and September,
at which times it may be regarded as a passing migrant to or
from unknown breeding-grounds further north, a supposition
favoured by its comparative rarity during June and the winter
months. When on migration it may often be met with inland, on
the edges of ponds, &c.
Henry Doubleday, writing from Epping on Aug. 24th, 1832, says (10) :—
" I have met with no ornithological rarities, except * * a very fine specimen
of the Green Sandpiper, which I shot here about two weeks since without spoil-
ing a feather, and it has made a very nice bird. It is very rare here, and only
now and then met with in the months of July, August, and September. I can-
not view it in the light of a winter visitant, as I never saw or heard of one at that
season. * * # I should think it is a summer visitor, like the Common Sandpiper,
though a much rarer one."
In Sept., 1835, he says (10) : "We have had several Green Sandpipers here
this autumn. I shot four at one pond." Again on Sept. 8th, 1840, he says (10):
" I shot a couple of Green Sandpipers about a week since, and saw a third, but it
was very shy." On Aug. 6th, 1841, he says (10) : " I have noticed one or two
Green Sandpipers at our ponds for the last two or three weeks." On Aug. 18th,
1842, he says (10) :—
" There are a great many Green Sandpipers at the ponds here—far more than
usual. I have noticed them for a month past. I cannot think when and where
they breed, as these seem all old birds, and I never yet shot a young one here,
though I daresay at different times I have killed a score. They are here in July,
and remain till November, and I sometimes see them in May."
Yarrell says (25. ii. 559) Doubleday informed him that he shot one near
Epping on Nov. 2nd, 1840, though he had never before observed one there so
late in the year. As it was only slightly wounded, he kept it alive, and it soon
became very tame, running rapidly about the room and feeding readily upon
small worms. Edward Doubleday, of Epping, in 1835, says (15) it " occurs here
in May, July (the first week), August, and September." Elsewhere he writes
(12. vi. 149) : " Is the Green Sandpiper a resident in Britain or only a periodical
visitant ? With us it is only found in: July, August, September, and, I believe,
October." Mr. Buxton says (47. 96) that to the Epping Forest district it is an
" occasional visitor in spring and autumn. One was shot in Mr. Barclay's grounds
Knott's Green. Two others, shot near Epping, and presented by Hy. Doubleday,