52 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



it, as the largeness of the flocks invites danger ; and 

 warmth in the winter season it does not afford. For 

 the purposes of migration, such associations are, in 

 many respects, serviceable and consistent ; but, in 

 our resident species, considered in its various re- 

 sults, it becomes rather a subject of conjecture than 

 of explanation. Timid creatures generally associate 

 commonly upon the apprehension of danger, and, 

 without yielding any mutual support, become only 

 the more obnoxious to evil ; and this snipe, though 

 its habits are the very reverse of connexion with its 

 species, yet affords no clue to direct us to the causes 

 of its unusual habits. These associations of some, 

 and retirement of others, are not the capricious 

 actions of an hour in a few individuals ; but so re- 

 gularly and annually observed in the several species, 

 that they are manifestly appointed provisions of 

 nature, though the object is unknown*." 



Similar remarks may be applied to the sand-piper 

 (Totanus hypoleucos, TEMMINCK), which is so so- 

 litary in habit that we have seldom observed two of 

 them together, even during the breeding season; 

 though individuals are very frequently seen tripping 

 along the sands by the sides of lakes and rivers, in 

 pursuit of water-insects, which they capture by speed 

 of foot, seldom, if ever, taking wing to continue the 

 pursuit, as is often done by their fellow-hunter the 

 wagtail (Motacilla lotor). We are not aware that 

 they congregate, even during their migrations. The 

 comparative scarcity of water-insects may probably 

 account for their remaining solitary, since, though 

 these insects are found in sufficient abundance at 

 particular times arid places, as in the clouds of day- 

 flies (Ephemeridtz) upon which we observed several 

 sandpipers feasting luxuriously on the banks of the 

 Rhine in autumn, yet this is only occasional, and the 

 supply is never regular, as it may be said to be on 

 * Journal of a Naturalist, p. 254, 



