THE VICTOUIAN NATURALIST. 107 



and engulf trees and other vegetation in their march, which is, of 

 course, caused by the wind. For instance, a vessel that was 

 stranded over one hundred years ago on the coast near Warrnam- 

 bool is now so completely buried by the sand that, although con- 

 siderable search has been made for it of late years, the exact 

 whereabouts of the vessel cannot be found ; it is supposed, how- 

 ever, to be now some distance inland. 



The Sand-hoppers, Talorchestia pravidactyla, are very numerous 

 and it is very interesting to watch their habits, especially during 

 the summer months, for during the cold winter vveather tliey are 

 very sluggish and do not often appear. They form the favourite 

 food of the Hooded and other Dottrels that frequent the sea 

 coast. These lively little crustaceans prefer keeping just above 

 high-water mark, but when the tide is out they often burrow in 

 the sand nearer the sea. However, the incoming tide drives 

 them back again, and if a wave comes up higher than usual to 

 where they are congregated under the sand, they come out in a 

 hurry and go helter skelter, as fast as they can jump, to higher 

 ground. They seem to have a strong aversion to being caught 

 by a wave. As a rule they live from four to seven inches from 

 the surface, but they are fond of congregating in the damp sand 

 under bunches of dead seaweed that lie on the surface just above 

 high water mark. The Dottrels know this habit of theirs, con- 

 sequently you see them go from one bit of seaweed to another 

 and turn it over on the chance of getting a dainty morsel. One 

 would think that the Sand-hoppers would choose a safer place by 

 this time, as countless thousands must get eaten every year by 

 birds from under the seaweed. Their food consists occasionally 

 of carrion that may be thrown up, but principally of the softer 

 kinds of seaweed, especially the seed-tubes of Kelp, and that 

 ihis is evidently their mainstay will be noticed from the fact that 

 many of these tubes lying on the beach pbout high water mark 

 have been almost completely eaten by these crustaceans. They, 

 of course, attack the lower part that is half-buried in the sand, 

 and crowding thickly under a piece, soon demolish it, unless a 

 Dottrel discovers their whereabouts and quickly demolishes them 

 instead. They seldom appear above the sand during the day, 

 evidently fearing their enemies ; but as the shades of night come 

 on the scene they will be noticed coming to the surface in 

 countless thousands — or I may say millions — and it is then also 

 that they chiefly feed. As before stated, they often have their 

 numerous burrows in the hardened dune sand near the top of the 

 cliff, as well as on the beach. 



Along the beach dead Penguins, Eudyptula minor, are 

 occasionally picked up, sometimes being washed up dead by the 

 waves, but at other times they come ashore alive, but, being in 

 very poor condition and evidently much enfeebled, soon die. 



