SCOLOPAGID^E. 311 



as it is a very tame bird, numbers may be bagged with- 

 out much exertion. 



The iris is dark brown, the bill, legs, and toes are black. 



[Mr. Andersson's memoranda contain descriptions of this 

 Sandpiper in winter dress, killed in December and January, and 

 in nuptial plumage obtained in April. A specimen in his last 

 collection, obtained on October 7th, retained a considerable por- 

 tion of its breeding-plumage. Another specimen, obtained at 

 Walwich Bay, on November 26th 1863, in full winter plumage, 

 is figured by Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser (loc. cit.). ED.] 



365. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). Sanderling. 



Arenaria calidris, Gould's Birds of Europe, pi. 335. 



Calidris arenaria, Layard's Cat. No. 623. 



Tringa calidris, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 416. 



Calidris arenaria, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, p. 767. 



The Sanderling is very common on the coast of Damara 

 Land, but is only sparingly met with inland. It is found 

 in great flocks, and associates with the Curlew Sandpiper ; 

 but whilst the latter, as it searches for its food, hunts and 

 ranges not only along the beach, but at some distance 

 from it, the Sanderling, on the contrary, scarcely if 

 ever leaves the immediate edge of the water, where it is 

 amusing enough to observe it feeding along a beach on 

 which the surf is breaking, now running away from the 

 threatening waters, then turning as if by instinct the 

 moment they have spent their fury, closely following 

 the receding waves and rapidly seizing, amongst their 

 foam and spray, the minute marine animals upon which 

 this bird subsists. The Sanderlings when thus engaged 

 appear as if they must be overwhelmed by the seething 

 billows; but in some marvellous manner they always 



