SANDPIPERS AND THE SANDERLING 55 



supply has fallen off; the main bodies now go else- 

 where. It is, I think, one of the most interesting 

 of our sea-shore birds, being so very active and 

 clean-looking. 



Very often when the tide is out, and the great 

 dreary mud-flats are bare, the Dunlins are the only 

 birds that enliven them. Bare flats are depressing 

 to look at without life of some kind. But these 

 fowl whirl over them, up and down and across, 

 now here, now there, at one time feeding or running 

 about, then up and away ; for ever on the move. 

 Some of my most pleasant and valued experiences 

 have been gained when watching the quick-winged 

 and nimble-footed Dunlins. 



The winter plumage of the Curlew-billed Sand- 

 piper is very near that of the Dunlin that it 

 feeds with, for we have killed both birds, when we 

 fired at what we thought were Dunlins only, that 

 ordinary fowlers would have picked up as Dunlins. 

 Of course the white upper tail coverts would dis- 

 tinguish it from the Dunlin ; but when a north- 

 easter is blowing and salt spin-drift makes the eyes 

 water, trifles are not noticed. Another matter is 

 that we have shot old Dunlins with the bill bent 

 downwards nearly as far as that of the Curlew 

 Sandpiper. This bird has never nested in any part 

 of the United Kingdom. The female resembles 

 the male in both winter and summer plumage, but 

 she is larger. 



The Curlew Sandpiper has the same habits as 

 the Dunlin, in fict if fowlers would examine their 



