208 TRINGA CINCLUS. 



insects, in pounding which a great quantity of sand, gene- 

 rally of a black colour, is employed by the gizzard. If it be 

 pleasant to gaze upon the flocks as they sweep over the 

 water, it is not less so to watch them searching the shores. 

 They are seen moving about in a quiet manner, never inter- 

 fering with each other, but busily picking up the food which 

 comes in their way, or which they discover by tapping or 

 probing, without, however, thrusting their bills deep into the 

 sand or mud. Frequently, keeping along the edge of the 

 water, they are seen to run out as the wave retires, and 

 retreat as it advances on the beach. In still shallow water 

 they may often be seen wading, and it is observable that 

 their bills are just about the length of their tarsi and the 

 exposed part of the tibia ; but they never go beyond their 

 depth or resort to swimming, although when wounded, 

 should one drop into the water, it floats buoyantly, and is 

 capable of advancing. Their ordinary cry when on wing is 

 a single shrill peep, and when feeding a softer and less loud 

 note. Very frequently they associate with Sanderlings, 

 sometimes with Ring-Plovers ; but although while feeding 

 they may often be seen mingling with Curlews, Redshanks, 

 Godwits, or Oyster- catchers, they separate from these birds 

 when put up, as their mode of flight is different. On sands 

 in the vicinity of towns, or in populous districts, being much 

 persecuted, they become very wary in winter ; and the best 

 time for shooting them is during ebb, when they are more 

 keenly engaged in searching for food. Although they fre- 

 quent the exposed beaches on the coast, they prefer the sands 

 of estuaries, and from September to May are scattered over 

 the whole extent of our shores, but for the most part dis- 

 appear from the northern parts of Scotland. It may be 

 supposed that multitudes of these birds are of foreign origin, 

 and visit us, like the Woodcock, when their native country 

 becomes too cold for them ; but it is probable that a very 

 large proportion is indigenous. 



The Dunlins in fact breed in great numbers on the heaths 

 of many parts of Scotland, and its larger islands, w r here they 

 may be found scattered in the haunts selected by the Golden 

 Plovers, with which they are so frequently seen in company 



