LITTLE STINT. 71 



range of this little bird, it is probable that it seldom comes 

 so far to the westward as the British Islands, when on its 

 way in the spring to the high northern latitudes in which 

 a portion of them every year produce their young. One / 

 specimen was obtained by the naturalists on Sir Edward 

 Parry's second Arctic voyage. M. Nilsson says it is found 

 in Sweden from spring to autumn. Mr. Dann's note, as 

 communicated to me, is as follows : " The Little Stint is 

 by no means common, and the only specimens I have met 

 with have been in the autumn, in the flooded grounds on 

 the banks of rivers and lakes. On being approached they 

 squat down and allow you to advance within a few feet of 

 them." According to Mr. W. Thompson, a small number 

 are seen every autumn in Belfast Bay. Mr. Hey sham has 

 several times recorded the appearance of old and young 

 birds in autumn, in the vicinity of the Solway. Mr. 

 Thomas Howitt sent me notice of the occurrence of this 

 bird in the western part of Lancashire. The Rev. W. 

 S. Hore, with his friend Mr. Gutch, saw from forty to 

 fifty examples on the Laira mud banks near Plymouth, 

 in October, 1840, and shot ten or twelve of them. They 

 are frequently observed on the sands of the coast of 

 Sussex. I have obtained them in the London market, 

 once in the summer plumage, once in that peculiar to the 

 winter, but more frequently in autumn. Dr. Plomley 

 sent me word from Romney Marsh, that a flock of thirty 

 was seen there in October, 1839. They are frequent on 

 the coasts of Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Durham, in 

 the autumn : Bewick's specimen was obtained in Septem- 

 ber ; but they are not so often killed in the more northern 

 counties. They are most frequently found on the sandy 

 shores of the sea, and generally in company with the Dun- 

 lin or the Sanderling, or both, as they fly in small, and 

 sometimes in large flocks together. They select for food 



