428 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
any small floating substances, sometimes so close as 
to be caught by a wave that runs up a little further 
than usual, at which times they have either to swim 
to land, which they do as quickly as possible, or, 
rising for a moment on the wing, pitch again just 
above the reach of the wave; except on such occa- 
sions as these, when caught by the water or falling 
into it when wounded, I have never seen these birds 
swim, nor do I think they ever do so voluntarily. 
The food of the Dunlin consists of aquatic insects, 
worms, small Mollusca, beetles, gnats, sandflies and 
spiders. In its search for food it confines itself 
almost entirely to the close neighbourhood of the 
water, but it is said occasionally, when driven from 
its favourite feeding-ground by high tides, especially 
spring-tides, to retire to some suitable ground a 
short way inland. I have never seen it do this 
myself, but it generally appears to me to get very 
unsettled at this time, and large flocks may be seen 
almost continually on the wing, wheeling about in 
all directions, sometimes joining together in immense 
numbers, and at others breaking up into small 
parties, until the ebb-tide has again left open at least 
a portion of its favourite feeding-ground. 
Some few remain here to breed, but the great 
portion retire to more northern latitudes for that 
purpose. The nest appears to be a very slight 
structure, consisting merely of a small hole, slightly 
lined with moss and grass: it is usually placed 
