Birds of Britain 



but they only stay for a very short time to rest and then 

 continue their journey to the Far North. 



Their food consists entirely of marine insects, sand- 

 hoppers, and other Crustacea, but at their summer-quarters 

 large quantities of the northern saxifrage are consumed. 

 It is very tame, allowing a close approach as it runs about 

 on the sand, and appears conspicuously white among the 

 Dunlins and other shore-birds with which it consorts. The 

 note is a sharp " wick." 



Its breeding range is entirely circumpolar, and the eggs 

 are greenish, spotted with brown, not unlike miniature 

 Curlew's. 



In its winter plumage, in which it is most commonly 

 met with in this country, the upper parts are pale grey 

 and the under parts white. In its spring plumage the 

 feathers of the back are black, with rufous margins ; the 

 chin, throat, and breast chestnut, with a few dark brown 

 spots; vent white. In autumn the rufous edgings on the 

 back of the old birds have almost entirely worn away. 

 Length 8 in. ; bill 0'9 in. ; wing 4*7 in. 



This species may always be distinguished by the absence 

 of the hind toe. 



In autumn the young have the back black, spotted with 

 white; the under parts white, with traces of buff on the 

 sides of the breast 



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