OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 281 



is a winter visitor to China, Japan, and the Malay Archipelago (Java, Borneo), 

 and has been recorded from Australia. During that season it visits all the coasts 

 of South America within the tropics, the Galapagos, the West Indies, and the 

 Bermudas. In the New World the Sanderling is found as far south as Terra del 

 Fuego ; in the Old World down to Cape Colony. If these visits are normal, then 

 the species breeds in southern latitudes. 



Allied forms. None of sufficient propinquity to demand notice. 



Habits. A few Sanderlings, probably individuals that have not been 

 breeding, appear on the British coasts at the end of July, but the majority of 

 birds arrive during August and the early days of September. By the middle of 

 the latter month many have passed on towards the south ; by the end of October 

 comparatively few are left, and some of these linger with us throughout the 

 winter. The return migration of the Sanderling commences on our coasts in 

 April, and lasts into May and early June. It is said to be one of the first 

 migrants to arrive in the Arctic regions, even reaching such high latitudes as the 

 extreme north of Siberia by the 4th of June, and Grinnell Land, upwards of eight 

 degrees further north, one day later. That the Sanderling migrates by night 

 there can be little doubt, for I have repeatedly become aware of its arrival in the 

 Wash in autumn by taking as many as half-a-dozen birds from a single flight net 

 as soon as the tide had ebbed, and before sunrise. I do not think they fly very 

 high whilst on passage, for these birds must have struck the net at the half-ebb, 

 when only a part of it was exposed above water. The Sanderling is a gentle, trust- 

 ful little creature, not only fond of the sandy reaches, but the mud-flats and shores 

 of the creeks and streams in salt marshes and in the estuaries of rivers. Whilst 

 on passage and in its winter quarters the Sanderling gathers into flocks of varying 

 size, but many pairs frequent the coast by themselves, or attach themselves to 

 parties of other small Waders. I have especially remarked the partiality of this 

 little bird for the company of Kinged Plovers. Here in Devonshire most large 

 bunches of that Plover contain a few Sanderlings during the period of the latter 

 bird's migrations. Its actions on the sand are very similar to those of the Kinged 

 Plover. It does not appear to run in such fits and starts, but steadily searches 

 the ground after the manner of a Dunlin or a Stint. In many localities I have 

 repeatedly observed that during high water the Sanderling skulks on the higher 

 shingle, returning to the actual beach as soon as the sands begin to be exposed. 

 Here it follows the receding tide, running about the edge of the waves as they 

 break on shore, and occasionally wading through the shallow water. The white 

 breast of the Sanderling makes it a very conspicuous bird on the dark sands, and 

 the effect produced of a scattered flock all standing head towards the observer is 

 very pretty. It is a remarkably tame little creature upon its first arrival, but 

 becomes more wary later. The food of this species consists of crustaceans, sand- 



