CURLEW-BILLED SANDPIPER. 219 



Habits. — Although this species is very uncommon along 

 our shores, it is probably not of so very rare occurrence as it 

 is generally supposed to be; inattentive observers and sports- 

 men being apt to confound it with the Dunlin. It arrives 

 in small flocks on the shores of the Firth of Forth, in the 

 beginning of September, and is occasionally met with at the 

 mouth of the Esk at Musselburgh, which is the only place 

 where I have had an opportunity of seeing it alive, and 

 where I have shot it. Generally mingling with the Dunlins, 

 it is hardly distinguishable from them ; but when seen apart, 

 is observed to have precisely the same habits as to its mode 

 of searching the sands for food. Its flight is rapid and 

 light ; its ordinary cry a shrill scream, differing from the cry 

 of the Dunlin. It searches the mud and sands, walking or 

 running according to occasion, and patting or probing them 

 in search of food, which consists of small worms and other 

 marine animals, along with which it swallows fragments of 

 quartz and other mineral substances. I am not qualified to 

 say more respecting its habits. 



Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, represents it as not uncommon 

 there, and considers it as an annual visitant along the whole 

 eastern and southern coasts of Ireland. " September is its 

 favourite month in Belfast Bay. The earliest arrival noted 

 is the 25th of August; before the end of September its 

 departure is occasionally taken, and it rarely remains until 

 the end of October. The numbers vary in different years. 

 In 1838 they were remarkably scarce; an intelligent shooter, 

 always on the look-out, observing them but twice — one on 

 the 3rd of September, and none again until the 23rd of 

 October, when four appeared. In 1845, one only was killed; 

 a few others were heard during the last week of August that 

 year. In 1846, but two were seen until the 10th of October, 

 on which day one was killed ; the other had been procured 

 on the 26th of September. In the autumn of 1837, they 

 were more common than usual in the bay, and numbers 

 were shot : a flock of about twenty birds was once seen, and 

 out of a party of eight, six were killed at one discharge. 

 My informant (who has supplied me with many specimens) 

 distinguishes this species from the Dunlin when on the 



