290 CHAEADKIID^E 



the unaided eye, other shore-birds, such as Ringed-Plovers, 

 Stints, and Sanderlings, among their numbers. But later in 

 the season, when gunners appear on the scene, these little 

 birds become shy and restless. In some districts it is 

 interesting to contrast the wary birds which frequent our 

 shores in March with the comparatively tame birds which 

 appear in April, and later on in the spring. The former 

 represent those which have remained with us throughout 

 the winter, and were probably much persecuted by the 

 shore-shooter; the latter represent migrants which have 

 travelled from the far south, where they were unmolested 

 by powder and shot. 



When the ooze is covered by the inflowing tide, Dunlins 

 often crowd together on sand-banks ; I have also seen them 

 rest on rocks, and grass-covered hillocks ; or hide in drains 

 and ditches adjacent to the sea. 



Flight. At first ebb the birds rise, and after wisping, 

 muster into large flocks and fly towards their feeding- 

 grounds. This is the time to witness their marvellous 

 flight. The aerial gyrations performed by a great company 

 of these birds almost surpass description. On p. 216 a flight 

 of Dunlins in company with Ringed Plovers, has been 

 described. It is now only necessary to refer to the extra- 

 ordinary way in which each member of the flock is actuated 

 to turn precisely at the same moment, displaying simul- 

 taneously the white under-parts, which glitter in the 

 distance like a shower of silver coins. The movement is 

 most wonderful and full of variety. At one moment the 

 flock spreads itself horizontally in a sheet-like mass, suddenly 

 it lifts itself and speeds vertically along like a great sail ; 

 the next instant all the birds are clustered together, appear- 

 ing for a second like a moving bunch of grapes which shoots 

 up and down through the air with remarkable speed. As 

 they pass by with a mighty rush of wings, the pleasing 

 chatter and purr from their voices can be heard distinctly. 

 Now they seem to vanish suddenly from sight as they turn 

 their shaded backs, and finally, as they disappear in the 

 distance, they resemble a puff of smoke or a little dark cloud 

 which becomes lost to view as it passes along the horizon. 

 Many a time have I watched the precision with which an 

 immense flock of Dunlins will suddenly split up into smaller 

 companies, which then separate widely from one another. 

 This movement of numbers in concert drew the remark of 

 the old Irish sailor, " Sorra one bit ot use in drilling, for they 

 are the best soldiers on the strand." 



