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wind catching them sideways blows them along the beach, 

 often knocking them head over heels, and even whirling 

 them on to the fringe of the breakers. Then, only, do they 

 fly away to seek shelter in calmer quarters. Although 

 frequently seen by themselves, these birds are sociable, and 

 will hunt for food over acres of beach, in the company of 

 other ' waders,' especially Ringed Plovers and Turnstones. 

 From the latter two species the Sanderling is easily distin- 

 guished by the light ' pearl ' or ' french ' grey colour of its 

 back and wings, which no other small ' wader,' save the 

 Grey Phalarope exhibits. The reddish-brown nuptial dress 

 is much less noticeable, and during the spring and summer 

 months a Sanderling might easily be mistaken on the shore 

 for a Dunlin ; the black breast of the latter is, however, a 

 most distinguishing mark. Small parties of Sanderlings, 

 numbering from four to eight, frequently associate with 

 more than double the number of Einged Plovers and 

 Turnstones. 1 It is easy to pick out the Sanderlings apart 

 from the distinction of their characteristic plumage ; they 

 run much faster and are altogether more active. 



It is most interesting to watch the little creatures lightly 

 tripping along the water's edge, some halting to indulge in 

 the luxury of a splashing and hurried bath, others racing 

 into the water and out again, with all speed, to escape a 

 drenching from the breaking waves. One or two drop out 

 of the ranks in order to secure a shrimp or worm. Away 

 they race after their companions for fully thirty yards 

 without stopping, as if suddenly propelled by clockwork, 

 and now having joined company, the merry party move 

 rapidly onward until they can be discerned in the distance 

 only as tiny moving specks. 



Immature birds are very tame in autumn ; indeed 

 throughout winter and spring, unless persistently molested, 

 they are not particularly wary. 2 Dense flocks are not 

 common : even when numbers are quietly resting on the 

 dry shingle, during high water, they are generally scattered 

 fairly wide apart. 



Flight. This species is swift and strong on the wing ; 



J A common sight in winter is about forty Kinged-Plovers, a dozen or 

 more Turnstones and about lialf a dozen Sanderlings feeding together 

 on the strand. 



2 Most of the birds which remain on our coasts during winter are 

 immature. 



