272 Wild Life in Wales 



quite as broad at its base as any of the others ; and long bills, 

 of no more than normal width, are quite common. 



In a greenhouse, or in a small garden, if the latter can be 

 kept free from cats, any of the smaller Sandpipers make 

 admirable pets, and the Dunlin is at the same time one of 

 the easiest to obtain, and most quickly becomes tame. I 

 have kept several, at different times, in a greenhouse, and 

 have found them most entertaining, as well as very useful 

 in keeping down all sorts of creeping things within their 

 reach ; and some of them have become so familiar, after 

 only a week or two's confinement, as to run purring up to 

 me to be fed, or closely follow me about when pots or stones 

 were being shifted. Worms, slugs, earwigs, and woodlice, 

 are all instantly picked up, and carried off to the water dish, 

 to be soaked, and dabbled, before being swallowed ; and when 

 such natural food is not forthcoming, the bird is quite con- 

 tent with small bits of flesh, or fish, and will also eat boiled 

 rice and bread crumbs. Young birds so kept have scarcely 

 moulted a feather with me until spring, when the new 

 plumage all came red. 



