290 CHARADRIIDA 
the unaided eye, other shore-birds, such as Ringed-Plovers, 
Stints, and Sanderlings, among their numbers. But later in 
the season, when gunners appear on the scene, these little 
birds become shy and restless. In some districts it is 
interesting to contrast the wary birds which frequent our 
shores in March with the comparatively tame birds which 
appear in April, and later on in the spring. The former 
represent those which have remained with us throughout 
the winter, and were probably much persecuted by the 
shore-shooter; the latter represent migrants which have 
travelled from the far south, where they were unmolested 
by powder and shot. 
When the ooze is covered by the inflowing tide, Dunlins 
often crowd together on sand-banks ; I have also seen them 
rest on rocks, and grass-covered hillocks; or hide in drains 
and ditches adjacent to the sea. 
Flight.—At first ebb the birds rise, and after wisping, 
muster into large flocks and fly towards their feeding- 
erounds. This is the time to witness their marvellous 
flight. The aérial gyrations performed by a great company 
of these birds almost surpass description. On p. 216 a flight 
of Dunlins in company with Ringed Plovers, has been 
described. It is now only necessary to refer to the extra- 
ordinary way in which each member of the flock is actuated 
to turn precisely at the same moment, displaying simul- 
taneously the white under-parts, which glitter in the 
distance lke a shower of silver coins. The movement is 
most wonderful and full of variety. At one moment the 
flock spreads itself horizontally in a sheet-like mass, suddenly 
it lifts itself and speeds vertically along like a great sail ; 
the next instant all the birds are clustered together, appear- 
ing for a second like a moving bunch of grapes which shoots 
up and down through the air with remarkable speed. As 
they pass by with a mighty rush of wings, the pleasing 
chatter and purr from their voices can be heard distinctly. 
Now they seem to vanish suddenly from sight as they turn 
their shaded backs, and finally, as they disappear in the 
distance, they resemble a puff of smoke or a little dark cloud 
which becomes lost to view as it passes along the horizon. 
Many a time have I watched the precision with which an 
immense flock of Dunlins will suddenly split up into smaller 
companies, which then separate widely from one another. 
This movement of numbers in concert drew the remark of 
the old Irish sailor, ‘‘ Sorra one bit of use in drilling, for they 
are the best soldiers on the strand.” 
