1 86 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



seems to nest The Oystercatcher is much rarer 

 still as a breeding bird, notwithstanding the many 

 likely spots, and we have never met with the 

 bird under circumstances that suggested a nest. 

 It is said formerly to have bred upon the wild 

 rocky shore near the Start, but we doubt if there 

 is a single point on the mainland where it nests 

 to-day. Neither the Common Tern nor the Lesser 

 Tern has a single breeding station in the county, 

 although both nest in the neighbouring county 

 of Dorset, on the spit of sands that terminates 

 in Portland Bill. In August, however, a very 

 different state of things begins to prevail. 

 Perhaps the first bird to mark the coming change 

 is the Common Sandpiper. It commences to retire 

 from the inland plateau to the coast in July, and 

 as the autumn advances its numbers increase. 

 This engaging little bird not only frequents the 

 mudflats, but is also very partial to the rocky 

 beaches. It is a fairly common bird all round 

 Tor Bay, and we have shot examples so late on 

 in the year as to suggest that odd individuals may 

 pass the winter with us. They may be seen in 

 small parties, usually made up of the brood and 

 their parents, but sometimes several broods join 



