338 TOTANUS CALIDRIS. 



downwards." Muddy shores at the mouths of rivers, shallow 

 pools left hy the tide, and the sands in rocky creeks, are its 

 favourite places of resort. Its food consists of insects, worms, 

 small Crustacea, and mollusca, which it picks from the sur- 

 face, frequently wading for that purpose up to the ancles. It 

 also prohes the mud and soft sand in the manner of the Dun- 

 lin. Much more vigilant and suspicious than the Sandpipers 

 and Plovers, it does not allow a person to approach within 

 shot, but, on his advancing, first exhibits its alarm by run- 

 ning about, pivoting its body incessantly, and uttering its 

 shrill cries, and then flies off, repeating its screams in a series 

 of sharp notes, and alarming all the birds in the neighbour- 

 hood. Its flight is light, rapid, wavering, and as if unde- 

 cided, and being performed by quick jerks of the wings, 

 bears some resemblance to that of a pigeon. Alighting 

 again at a great distance, along the edge of the water, it runs 

 a short way, stands, vibrates its body, utters its cry, and thus 

 continues until its alarm has subsided. It runs with great 

 celerity, and is in every way remarkable for its activity, 

 which becomes almost ludicrous when it is picking up its 

 food on a beach washed by a high surf, its movements being 

 then executed with astonishing rapidity, as it follows the 

 retiring and retreats before the advancing waves. 



In summer it is found near the heads of the unfrequented 

 creeks, among fens or salt-marshes, and not unfrequently 

 by pools and lakes, not far from the sea, but often also in 

 the interior. At this season should a person come within a 

 quarter of a mile of its habitation, it is sure to greet him 

 with its clamorous cries, and to advance towards him on 

 wing, wheeling round, gliding to either side, and exhibit- 

 ing its alarm lest he should discover its nest or young. I 

 have found it breeding in the Hebrides, but not in great 

 numbers. Mr. Selby met with it in summer on the marshy 

 margin of Loch Doulich, near Lairg, and at the head of Loch 

 Naver, in Sutherlandshire. Here and there it may be seen 

 in the middle and southern districts of Scotland, especially 

 in the former, in many tracts of which it is common. In the 

 marshes of the eastern parts of England it also frequently 

 breeds, according to the statements of various observers. 



