50 



old birds are also on the coast, which have then got through 

 their autumnal moult, which is the only complete moult during 

 the year, and are in what is called the winter plumage. Some 

 are found on the shores during the whole winter. I once ob- 

 served a young bird in August with some of the down not then 

 worn from the tips of some of its back feathers.* By April, most 

 of those which have wintered with us, leave. Towards the latter 

 part of May, and till the first week in June, flocks appear on the 

 coast. Most of the birds are then in their summer plumage. On 

 the shores of the Solway, at that season, they are sometimes in 

 large flocks ; they remain a short time ; after this they all dis- 

 appear to breed. I never knew an instance of the Sandcrling 

 being seen away from the sea coast ; it is generally observed close 

 to the edge of the sea, wading amongst the sand, or muddy sand 

 as it is disturbed by the tide, picking up its food. It is a most 

 active bird on the wing, and generally wary when in large 

 flocks, wheeling and flying about the sands ; and, especially when 

 in summer plumage, it is pleasing to see the pure white of the 

 under-parts contrasting so well with the rich buff colour of the 

 upper plumage. The young birds of the year can be distinguished 

 from the old birds when they have got their grey plumage on the 

 back by the wing coverts, and the long tertials, the young birds 

 seldom changing them before the general moult the following 

 autumn. It is difficult to account for the appearance of the old 

 birds so early in the season. I have sometimes thought it pro- 

 bable that the few which do come so early may have lost their 

 eggs or young by accident, and migrated earlier than they other- 

 wise would have done in consequence. The old birds observed 

 so early have not commenced to moult their quills ; and I think 

 they do not remain on this coast during the time they do moult 

 their quills, as it is not usual to meet with them doing so. I 

 think the greater portion of the old birds which visit us during 

 winter do not arrive on our coast until after the autumnal moult 



* In Captain Fieldens' appendix to Caj>t;iin X;uv> 1 book, he mentions on 

 August 8th, on the shores of Robeson's Channel, meeting with the young 

 Sanderlings just able to fly but retaining some of the down on their feathers. 



