244 OBSER VA TION OF THE TURNSTONE. CHAP. xn. 



ately recognised them as Turnstones. Not wishing 

 to disturb them, and anxious at the same time to 

 witness their operations, I observed that a few paces 

 nearer them, there was a deep hollow among the 

 shingle, where I contrived to creep into unobserved. 



" I was now distant from them about ten yards, 

 and had a distinct and unobstructed view of all their 

 movements. In these there was evinced that extra- 

 ordinary degree of sagacity and perseverance which 

 comes under the notice only of those who watch the 

 habits of the lower creation with patience and assi- 

 duity, and which, when fully and accurately related, 

 is not unfrequently discredited by individuals who, 

 although fond of Natural History, seem inclined to 

 believe that everything in regard to animals must 

 necessarily be false, or at least the result of ignorance, 

 unless it has been recorded in books which are con- 

 sidered authorities on the subject. 



" But to return : having got fairly settled down in 

 my pebbly observatory, I turned my undivided at- 

 tention to the birds before me. They were boldly 

 pushing at the fish with their bills, and then with 

 their breasts. Their endeavours, however, were in 

 vain : the object remained immovable. On this they 

 both went round to the opposite side, and began to 

 scrape away the sand from beneath the fish. After 

 removing a considerable quantity, they again came 

 back to the spot which they had left, and went once 

 more to work with their bills and breasts, but with as 



