212 The Irish NatJiralist. October, 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE SANDERUNG OF 



DUBLIN BAY. 



BY ALEXANDER WILI.IAMS, R.H.A., N.B.A. 



Owing to the widely spreading desire for nature study, and 

 the number and enthusiasm of those who, with pen, pencil, 

 and camera, engage in its pursuit, it is becoming increasingly 

 difficult to add new facts to our knowledge of native birds. 

 However, the discovery made hy me of numbers of Sanderling 

 {Calidris arciiaria) occurring in Dublin Bay during the entire 

 month of Jul3% for three years in succession, when they are 

 supposed by natural history authorities to be away in the 

 northern regions engaged in the reproduction of the species, 

 was referred to by Professor Patten, of Sheffield University, 

 at the meeting of the British Association in Dublin in 1908, 

 and may be of some interest. 



M}' first acquaintance with Sanderling commenced many 

 years ago when I was out collecting near the mouth of the 

 Boyne River at Drogheda, almost thirt}' miles north of Dublin, 

 about the middle of 1\x\y. I had fired at a small party of 

 waders that suddenly flew past, and on picking up two birds I 

 was greatl}^ surprised to find that the feathers of the neck, 

 back, and head were a rusty brick-red colour, with darker 

 mottlings. I had been so accustomed to the grey winter 

 plumage of waders that it w^as a revelation to see for the first 

 time, as I afterwards learned, the Sanderling in its full nuptial 

 plumage. Since then, thanks to the splendidly instructive 

 collection of native birds in our National Museum in Dublin, 

 there is little excuse for want of knowledge amongst bird 

 lovers. Perhaps on account of its great diversit3^ of plumage 

 and colour changes, the Sanderling has been a special favourite 

 of mine, and a few years back my brother Edward, Professor 

 Patten, and myself, had very many opportunities of closely 

 studying its plumage and habits. The removal of Professor 

 Patten to Sheffield and the lamented decease of my brother 

 terminated those delightful natural history rambles on the 

 shores of Dublin Bay and its vicinity, but their recollection 

 will be ever cherished. The east coast of Ireland from Kings- 

 town Harbour to Carlingford Lough, a distance of nearly fifty 

 miles, contains a succession of hard, sandy shores, w^ell suited 

 as habitat.? of the Sanderling, and they occur all through the 



