The Zoologist — February, 1866. 91 



Sanderling. — Several of these birds frequented the beach at the 

 same time as the tiirnslones, with which they consorted ; one was shot 

 in intermediate plumage, more inclining, however, to that of winter 

 than of summer. They do not seem to be common here. 



Ringed Dotterell. — I see small flocks of these birds on the beach, 

 generally at day-break in the morning, or in the evening. They 

 remain on the beach, it appears, most of the night, and feed very early 

 in the morning. I have shot several specimens during the last few 

 weeks, most of which have been females. I first observed their 

 arrival at the end of September. When roused early in the morning, 

 if the tide is in, they get up by twos and threes, as they have been 

 roosting during the night, and after some time, if further disturbed, 

 they pack into a flock, and generally fly away some distance. Morris 

 gives the length of the ringed dotterell as 7^ inches : I have shot one 

 or two 8 inches in length. They are at present enormously fat. 



Redshank. — Redshanks are very numerous, and have been so since 

 the beginning of September. There are a good many to be seen in 

 localities near here during the summer months, as they stay to breed. 

 There is one spot in Canvey Island, a marsh, where some few nest, 

 and I have no doubt some do so in one place or the other every year. 

 Their nests are very difficult to find : on approaching them the old birds 

 become very noisy, flying round and round, screaming incessantly; 

 on alighting they stand still at first, and have a habit of jerking back 

 their heads. They entirely frequent the salt-water creeks surrounding 

 the islands at Foulness, feeding on the muddy banks of these, when 

 left bare by the ebbing tide. During high water they seem to be ever 

 on the wing, and, assembling in little flocks, sweep over the surface of 

 the water and over the low lands in a manner which reminds one of 

 the little flocks of swifts which one sees sweeping through a town. 

 They roost with us on the saltings, and become very noisy and un- 

 settled before retiring to rest. 



Dunlin. — These sandpipers arrived here at the end of August. I was 

 away at the beginning of September, but on my return I found them 

 already pretty numerous. They have been increasing steadily since 

 then, and have now attained to the vast numbers which frequent the 

 coast always in the winter. They go much in company with small 

 flocks of dotterells. Specimens I shot on the 7th of October were in 

 intermediate plumage ; some killed a fortnight later had quite assumed 

 their winter dress. They feed mostly on the mud flats of the coast, 

 which are bare at low water. On approaching a flock of these birds. 



