SAND DUNES AND SALT MARSHES 



has fallen to the ground, it emits a few low 

 clucks. The whole performance is altogether 

 delightful and unexpected. 



The sanderling, locally known as '' whitey " 

 on account of its white appearance, is an abun- 

 dant bird on the migrations both in spring and 

 fall. It is somewhat larger than the peep, and 

 its gray and white plumage makes it a con- 

 spicuous object as it flies in closely crowded 

 ranks. In full breeding plumage it has a 

 ruddy brownish throat and upper breast, but 

 many go north in the spring still in the white 

 of their winter plumage. The early arrivals 

 in August or late July on the journey south 

 are often ruddy-throated, but the change to 

 winter plumage by moulting soon spots the 

 throat with white until all the red feathers 

 are gone. 



In the middle of August the young, sadly 

 inexperienced, arrive, and in their tameness 

 fall an easy prey to the gunner. They are beau- 

 tiful birds, with faint smoky bands across 

 their white breasts. It is a great pleasure to 

 watch a flock as they crowd together along 

 the shore, probing every spot of sand for the 

 small molluscs and crustaceans which consti- 

 tute their food. As the season advances our 



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