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Numbers of non-resident birds sojourn for longer and shorter 

 periods on the sands and mud-flats in the spring and autumn — 

 or, perhaps, more properly speaking, there is a succession of the 

 same species. Autumn birds begin to arrive at the beginning of 

 August, and continue passing southwards until late in October ; 

 these are the Whimbrel (Numenius phceopus), Dotterel (Hudromias 

 morinellus), Pygmy Curlew (Tringa subarquata), Little Stint 

 {Tringa minuta), in limited numbers, and others of the Sandpipers. 

 The Dotterels pass here, going north, early in May, and return 

 early in September. The numbers are said to be on the increase ; 

 a few years ago, before there was a close time for birds, a local 

 sportsman, who is an expert at tieing trout-flies, shot seven in 

 one day ; he uses the feathers for many flies. They are stupid 

 birds, and easily shot, allowing themselves to be walked up to 

 and shot in succession. Unlike many of the other migrants, 

 they appear to be oftener met with in the spring than in the 

 autumn migration. In 1883 one killed itself against the 

 telegraph wires, and in the same year over a dozen were observed 

 flying over Cowpen Marshes. The Little Stint (Tringa minuta) 

 is occasionally met with ; 1 came across four on the 22nd 

 September last year, and shot one, Their note is a feeble 

 plaintive whistle ; nothing like that of the Dunlin. 



The Common, Sandwich, and Arctic Terns (Sterna fluviatilis, 

 cantiaca, and macrura) also appear at this time, the first some- 

 times in great numbers. If one of these birds be shot, the others 

 will hover round it, regardless of their own danger, even after 

 several shots have been fired. The Eoseate and Black Terns 

 (Sterna douijalli and Hydrochelidon nigra) are also occasionally 

 met with ; one of the latter was observed among others of the 

 common species this last autumn. The Little Tern (Sterna 

 minuta) and the White-winged Black Tern (Hydrochelidon 

 leucoptera) have also been met with. All the commoner Gulls 

 are abundant during the winter and autumn months, and in less 

 numbers the whole year. The Iceland, Glaucous, and Little 

 Gulls Larus leucopterus, L. glaucus, and L. minutus) have been 

 met with occasionally ; one of the latter in November of last 

 year (1885) ; and an Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) on the 14th 

 February, 1880. 



Herons (Ardea cinerea) are also very common in the autumn, 

 chiefly, if not entirely, young birds; at least, all those I have 

 known to be shot were birds of the year. I remember seeing ten 

 or eleven on the wing together on the 2nd of September, 1884, 

 skimming along lazily just over the surface of the ground. They 



