Birds of Britain 



continually utters his clear " tui-tui " when on the wing. As 

 a rule he is more partial to ditches filled and emptied at every 

 tide than a broad flat expanse of mud, and by walking quickly 

 along a ditch he may often be closely approached and 

 watched as he probes the soft ooze for worms, shrimps, sand- 

 hoppers, or anything that may come handy. At the least sign 

 of danger, however, he is off, calling out as he rises and dis- 

 playing a very conspicuous white rump. Although liking 

 to associate with others of his kind, his wild flight soon 

 breaks up the family party, so that by the time he reaches 

 our shores in August and September it is generally in twos 

 and threes. The abundance of food on the shore has not 

 been without its effect, and he is at this time of year exceed- 

 ingly fat, doubtless a wise provision, as both old and young 

 are moulting and migrating, which must be a serious tax on 

 their system. They stay but a short time with us, and by 

 the beginning of October the last of them has gone and 

 their ringing " tui-tui " no longer enlivens the shore. In April 

 they will return, but they are then anxious to reach their 

 summer home, and brief as is their passage in autumn it is 

 still shorter in spring, and if we wish to see them then it 

 must be at their home in Scotland or farther north. 



In summer the back is nearly black, each feather being 

 margined with white ; rump white ; head white streaked 

 with dark brown. Under parts white with a few blackish 

 streaks on the throat and upper breast. In winter the 

 back is greyer and the under parts are pure white. The 

 sexes are alike. The young are browner on the back, and 

 have huffish margins to the feathers. Length 14 in.; wing 

 7-25 in. 



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