156 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



whicli varies quite as much as that of the Dunlin, 

 differs according to the season. 



Many persons confound this bird with the Dunlin, 

 calling both Stints, but it may be easily known at 

 all times of the year from that bird by its superior 

 size, shorter and stouter bill, longer and stouter 

 tarsus, and particularly by the absence of a hind toe. 

 The Sanderling, moreover, never at any season has 

 the black breast-feathers which mark the summer 

 plumage of the Dunlin. 



I am not aware of more than three instances of 

 its occurrence in this county. In a note in ' The 

 Zoologist,' dated 17th June, 1844, Mr. Bond has 

 recorded the fact that one was shot at Kingsbury 

 Reservoir, and I have seen two others which were 

 obtained at the same piece of water about ten years 

 later. These two were in the autumn plumage. 

 No collector, so far as I am aware, has yet ob- 

 tained authentic eggs of the Sanderling, and where 

 this bird breeds seems to be still a mystery. 

 Throughout the autumn and winter months they 

 may be seen in flocks on some parts of the coast, 

 but as soon as the warm spring days return, they 

 suddenly depart, no one knows whither. I once 

 shot three Sanderlings on the Lancashire coast as 

 late as the 8 0th May, but this must be an unusual 

 date at which to find them here, or they must be 

 late breeders. On looking to the contents of the 

 stomach, I found the food to consist of small 



