202 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Four of these birds were seen at Kingsbury 

 Reservoir by a local keeper, who is well acquainted 

 with the species, on the 4th January, 1864. They 

 were near the edge of the water, and crowding so 

 close together that he believed he could have killed 

 all four at a shot, and would have made the experi- 

 ment had he not been crawling to Ducks. Most 

 of our Sandpipers may be distinguished, when on 

 the wing, by their note. That of the Dunlin is 



It is usually more tame and fearless than many of 

 the Sandpipers, and will occasionally suffer a near 

 approach before taking wing. 



The beautiful flight of the Dunlin, when in large 

 flocks, must have been observed by all who, from 

 time to time, pay a visit to the seaside. The ap- 

 pearance which they present when moving in a large 

 body through the air has been faithfully described 

 by Mr. Thompson in his * Natural History of Ire- 

 land.' " When immense flocks divide, fly right and 

 left, and shoot into single strings, they strike upon 

 the eye while the sun 'shines upon them, and the 

 dark banks of the bay serve as background, like 

 silver lines, occasionally of great length. A flock 

 flying for a great distance just above the margin of 

 the flowing tide, has strongly resembled, from their 



