530 CLASS AVES. 



shores, and abound, in spring and autumn, both on the coasts 

 of Holland and of this country. They are only seen accident- 

 ally in countries remote from the sea. There is but one 

 species ; but as these birds, which undergo two moultings, are 

 most frequently seen in their summer plumage, in which red, 

 or reddish, is the predominant colour, while in winter it is 

 grey, it is not wonderful that naturalists have made a dis- 

 tinct species under the title of Charadrius Ruhidus. 



The Sanderlings traverse in their periodical migrations a 

 large portion of the globe. But they are only seen accident- 

 ally along rivers, which leads to the presumption that their 

 aliment consists of small marine worms and insects. They 

 breed in the North. 



The Sea Larks {Aloicettes de Mer), a name exceedingly 

 improper, as tending to the confusion of two genera so widely 

 remote, never quit the edge of waters, and especially prefer 

 the sea-shore, although they occasionally remove to a con- 

 siderable distance from it, since they are frequently seen 

 around the lakes and along the rivers of the Vosges and the 

 Pyrenees. They are birds of passage, at least in many 

 countries of Europe. They proceed very far to the north ; 

 for they are found in Sweden, on the borders of the Caspian 

 Sea, and throughout the whole of Siberia. During winter 

 they are very common both in France and England. The 

 species is named by Latham, Purre Sandpiper {Tringa 

 Cinclus, L.). 



Except during the nestling time, these birds unite in flocks, 

 often so crowded, that a great number of them may be killed 

 by a single shot. Nothing, says Belon, is more wonderful 

 concerning this little bird, than to see five or six hundred 

 dozens of them brought, on a single Saturday, in winter, to the 

 Paris market. They constitute an excellent game, but must 

 be eaten fresh ; they are not, however, destitute of that oily 

 taste, which appertains to almost all species of aquatic birds. 



