134 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



lakes, and any large inland sheets of water, as with other 

 members of the family. 



In speaking of the feeding habits of this bird, a well- 

 known ornithologist observes, " The Sanderling obtains its 

 food principally by probing the moist sands of the seashore 

 with its bill held in an oblique direction. At every step it 

 inserts this instrument with surprising quickness, to a greater 

 or less depth, according to the softness of the sand ; some- 

 times introducing it a quarter of an inch, sometimes to the 

 base. The holes thus made may be seen on the borders of 

 beaches, when the tide is fast receding, in rows of twenty, 

 thirty, or more ; in certain spots less numerous : for it 

 appears that when a place is unproductive of the food for 

 which they are searching, they very soon take to their 

 wings and remove to another, now and then in so hurried a 

 manner that one might suppose they had been suddenly 

 frightened. The contents of the stomach of those shot 

 while thus occupied were slender sea-worms, minute shell- 

 fish, and gravel. At other times, when they were seen fol- 

 lowing the receding waves, and wading up to the belly in 

 the returning waters, the stomachs contained small shrimps 

 and other Crustacea."" Other writers have observed it 

 feeding on the buds of the Saxifrage. 



The Sanderling runs very rapidly, and flies with ease 

 and swiftness ; when alarmed, the birds, when in flocks, 

 generally proceed to some fresh feeding spot at no very 

 great distance ; but when disturbed in very small parties 

 they not uncommonly take to flight and fly for some con- 

 siderable distance before settling. As already stated, 

 Sanderlings frequently associate with small companies of 

 Dunlins, &c. ; but they may be easily distinguished from 

 their companions by the prominent lightness of their 



