438 BIRDS OF SOMEKSETSHIRE. 



any small floating substances, sometimes so close as 

 to be caught by a wave that runs up a little further 

 than usual, at which times they have either to swim 

 to land, which they do as quickly as possible, or, 

 rising for a moment on the wing, pitch again just 

 above the reach of the wave ; except on such occa- 

 sions as these, when caught by the water or falling 

 into it when wounded, I have never seen these birds 

 swim, nor do I think they ever do so voluntarily. 



The food of the Dunlin consists of aquatic insects, 

 worms, small Mollusca, beetles, gnats, sandflies and 

 spiders. In its search for food it confines itself 

 almost entirely to the close neighbourhood of the 

 water, but it is said occasionally, when driven from 

 its favourite feeding-ground by high tides, especially 

 spring-tides, to retire to some suitable ground a 

 short way inland. I have never seen it do this 

 myself, but it generally appears to me to get very 

 unsettled at this time, and large flocks may be seen 

 almost continually on the wing, wheeling about in 

 all directions, sometimes joining together in immense 

 numbers, and at others breaking up into small 

 parties, until the ebb-tide has again left open at least 

 a portion of its favourite feeding-ground. 



Some few remain here to breed, but the great 

 portion retire to more northern latitudes for that 

 purpose. The nest appears to be a very slight 

 structure, consisting merely of a small hole, slightly 

 lined with moss and grass : it is usually placed 



