I9TO. Williams. — The Saiidirling of Dublin Bay, 215 



head covering with a broad brim is so useful, as one can lower 

 the front to the sar.d and cover the eyes. I have noticed at 

 such times that the Dunlin frequently lay in the shelter on 

 their sides and stretched a leg at full length, but I never saw 

 the Sanderling do so. They, when resting, often la}^ on their 

 breasts with their heads turned over their backs and their 

 beaks poked under the reathers : others stood on one leg, their 

 heads drawn down on the breast. Standing in a wisp, the 

 rear birds that felt the most of the wind often ran forward 

 and jostled the birds in the front out of the better-sheltered 

 places. Ever on the watch, the sleepers would only close 

 their e^es for a few moments, opening them with a start. 

 Some birds of the flock were always alert, suddenly stretching 

 their necks to the full they took a look all around and then 

 quieted down for another few minutes. A bird would stretch 

 its wings until they met over its head, and occasionally^ spread 

 out a wing and a ieg on the same side, for an instant. And 

 frequently they hopped on one leg, a common habit of waders. 

 It was amusing to see a solitary bird taking shelter in a little 

 cup-shaped depression where some straggling grasses had 

 collected the sand a few inches high, making a perfect cover 

 It would enjoy its newly-found comfort for only a few minutes, 

 for the quick eyes of its companions followed it, and soon a 

 string of birds would leave the flock and crowd up the hollow, 

 filling it to overflowing. 



Whilst out observing on the bank on the 29th of June, 

 1906, I was surprised to see a single Sanderling in the full 

 rust3'-coloirred rruptial plirmage at the edge of the water, 

 accompanied b}' two smaller birds of the same species. I 

 asked myself could it be possible that this was an adult 

 bird, with its two young, back from the northern regions, 

 or bred in this country. Using every device I approached 

 within twenty-five yards, and carefully examined the group 

 with my glass There was a remarkable difference in the 

 plumages. The two smaller birds greatly resembled the first 

 young Sanderlii :g that appear in August, pale grey with 

 darker mottlings on the back, dark markings on top of head, 

 and pale yellowish on sides of the neck with darker dots and 

 markings. The group were joined by another Sanderling, 

 also in the full nuptial dress. Here were two adults, accom- 

 panied apparerrtly by two young birds, on the 29th of June. 

 All their movements suggested that they were young ; they 



