I9IO. WiivLiAMS. — The Sandcrling of Dnb/iii Bay. 219 



lively 34, 10, and 30 birds. There was a large increase in the 

 Dunlin's number, and occasional!}' all the birds on the bank 

 would join together — Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, and 

 Lesser Terns — in one compact flock, and after flying about 

 over the sea for a while, on approaching the shore would 

 separate into the difterent species. I managed, by crawling, to 

 approach within 20 3'ards of the main flock of Dunlin, but 

 although I scrutinised them long and carefully, I was unable 

 to detect one solitary 3'oung bird of the 3'ear among them. 

 Everj^one had the black on the breast more or less developed, 

 and they were all, like the Sanderling, non-breeding birds- 

 On both sides were several old Ringed Plovers that had nested 

 on the bank, accompanied by their young, and in some 

 instances little bits of fluff adhered to feathers on their necks. 

 The scene was full of animated life, for overhead and con- 

 tinually swooping down to try and chase me away were crowds 

 of Lesser Terns, and on the level of my eye on the rough 

 sand, shingle, and broken shells I watched their young, unable 

 yet to fl}^ scampering about like mice. The young Lesser 

 Terns that are strong on the wing fraternise with the Sander- 

 ling, and may be seen flying in company and mingling freely 

 with them at the waters edge when feeding. 



A Sanderling obtained on this visit proved, on dissection, 

 to be a male. It was also a '' grey " bird, showing only very 

 faint signs of an}^ red colouring. The testes were only in a 

 rudimentary state, being apparently undeveloped, and instead 

 of the usual healthy colour were a faint 3'ello\v. Some Dunlin 

 examined at the same time were in a similar condition. The 

 weight of one of the earlier Sanderling was 2 oz. 5 drams, but 

 this bird weighed slightly over 30Z., and was enormously fat. 

 When the skin was removed for preservation, none of the 

 flesh}^ portions were visible, a thick coating of clear white oily 

 fat completely enveloped it everywhere. All the organs in 

 the bird's interior were coated and embedded in similar fat. 



It had been my intention to continue these observations in 

 the following year, but absence from Dublin prevented me ; 

 however, I was able to pay one visit to the bank on the 4tli 

 of July, 1909, when I found that two Sanderling were present. 



From the foregoing notes and observations there would 

 seem to be some features of interest, viz., the unsuspected 

 presence of so many non-breeding Sanderling and Dunlin 



