400 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



Power writes that "large 'flings' of these birds were 

 observed in September. They seldom come near the 

 smaller creeks, apparently preferring as feeding grounds 

 the extensive mud-flats towards Sheerness." 



Captain Boyd Alexander, in bis Ornithological Notes 

 from Bommy, March, 1896, says : On " June 3 I saw a 

 number of Dunlins with black breasts ; a somewhat late 

 date. So far as my experience goes, none of the adults 

 remain here during the entire summer. When feeding, 

 the Dunlins seems convinced of the justice of the rule, 

 ' Share and share alike.' Extended order is formed, or 

 when in flocks the rear portion alternately come to the 

 front, and in this way each bird partakes equally of what 

 the tide lays bare." 



In his notes on the Birds of Dungeness in 1900, Mr. 

 T. Hepburn writes that on May 10 to 14 " small flocks 

 of this bird are numerous in suitable places on the 

 beach. July 16 — 21: I did not notice any Dunlin on this 

 occasion." 



LITTLE STINT. 



Triiiga minuta, Leisler. Naclitrdge zu BecJist. 

 NatuTcj. Deutschl, pp. 74-81 (1812). 



This is only an autumn and winter visitor, and not 

 plentiful at any time, but being such a diminutive bird it 

 is easily overlooked ; however, it is found on the mud-flata 

 in the estuaries and large sands on the coast of Kent. 



Mr. J. Gould states that " a flock of thirty was seen in 

 Eomney Marsh in 1839." 



It is included in the Birds Observed at Bainham, by Mr. 

 W. H. Power, who says: " Towards the end of July, 1865, 

 I observed one of these birds about a small pool of water ; 



