SANDEELING. 121 



on the one hand, and the submerged forest on the 

 other, where huge trunks of trees lie buried in the 

 dark peaty soil, or a stratum of soft blue clay crops out 

 amidst the sand, a daily renewed banquet is afforded 

 to every species of shore-bird. On these moist level 

 sands, the sanderlings are distinguishable by the white- 

 ness of their breasts, at a great distance, looking at first 

 sight, when feeding towards one, like little lumps of 

 white chalk dotted over the surface, which, however, on 

 a nearer approach become strangely animated, and the 

 light and dark shades of the upper and under plumage 

 alternately presented to the eye, have a beautiful effect 

 on a bright sunny day. Although, as compared with 

 dunlins and turnstones, I always found these birds 

 extremely tame ; yet from the very nature of the 

 ground, it was almost impossible to obtain a shot at 

 them on the open sands, as without showing any par- 

 ticular alarm, they would always manage, by running 

 on and -feeding in advance, to keep just out of range ; 

 but occasionally I surprised a solitary bird by the edge 

 of the mussel-scalps, or when too busily engaged with 

 the last bit of seaweed thrown up by the waves. At 

 high water, however, in small flocks of from five or six 

 to about double that number, they were much more 

 accessible, and the raised banks of shingle, or the sand- 

 hills beyond, afforded means of approach. Their actions 

 when feeding are exceedingly pretty, occasionally raising 

 their wings over the back like golden plover, without 

 attempting to fly, running and stopping with quick 

 nervous steps, and apparently travelling with as much 

 ease over the large shingle as over the smooth sands. 

 When disturbed by the water's edge, they invariably 

 flew out to sea, uttering their shrill but pleasing cry on 

 the wing, and circling round would alight again on the 

 beach some hundred yards further on. At such times, 

 however, like the ringed plover, their most favourite 



