86 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



to as many as forty or fifty. When their usual feeding 

 places are covered with water, they frequently resort to 

 the shingle, and may be observed busily running- along 

 close to the edge of the tide. They are by no means diffi- 

 cult of approach, and have a habit of remaining motionless 

 on the ground until the intruder is within a few yards of 

 them. This characteristic, however, does not hold good 

 when they are associated with other birds ; in these cases 

 they seem to be more suspicious, and, when disturbed, at 

 once join in the speedy flight of their warier companions. 

 They evince considerable partiality to certain particular 

 feeding places, and if any are known to be in the neigh- 

 bourhood, they may be found in one spot with almost un- 

 varying regularity. When alarmed, or even when some 

 of their number are shot, the remainder will soon return 

 to the same vicinity, apparently quite oblivious to the fate 

 of their comrades. 



The Little Stint is generally met with in the autumn, 

 and has been observed, at various times, upon most of our 

 English coasts. Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Durham, 

 Sussex, and Devonshire may be quoted as localities which 

 have furnished numerous specimens, and in which they are 

 to be seen most frequently. They are said to be regular 

 visitors to at least some parts of Ireland ; and, according to 

 some authorities, Sweden is a favourite resort from spring- 

 time to the autumn. The greater number of these birds 

 undoubtedly breed in the higher northern latitudes, and, 

 consequently, not very much is known oB their habits at 

 this particular time. The eggs exactly resemble (with the 

 exception of their being much smaller) those of the common 

 Sandpiper. 



The plumage of the Little Stint undergoes considerable 



