THE SANDERLING. 123 



others standing, several with their heads beneath their wings, 

 awaiting, with exemplary patience, until the ebbing waters would 

 uncover their feeding grounds, they altogether — variety of attitude 

 and colour combined — formed the prettiest and most innocent- 

 looking group of birds I ever beheld. Truly, a lovely " picture of 

 repose was there." 



During almost every autumn for many years past, I have known 

 a few sanderlings to be shot in Belfast Bay, where they generally 

 appear about the beginning of September ; but soon after the 

 middle of July 1837, one was killed. In other years the earliest 

 appeared on the 23rd July (1848), and on the 10th of August 

 (1849),* the last still retaining the summer plumage.f They 

 — in very limited numbers, often indeed singly, and five being 

 the most I have heard of being seen together — keep by them- 

 selves on the shore, or mix with dunlins, &c. After September, 

 the migration from breeding haunts being over, they are to be 

 met with in their favourite abodes, extensive sandy beaches 

 Prom those at Dun drum (co. Down), Portmarnock, and Dublin 

 Bay, I have seen specimens which were procured from that period 

 until the end of January. In a note, kindly supplied by Dr. J. D. 

 Marshall, two sanderlings are mentioned as having been obtained 

 about fresh water, though not far distant from the sea; — one 

 near Downpatrick, in December 1830, and the other atNewtown- 

 limavady, on the 8th of January, 1831. The sanderling, fre- 

 quents the coast of Donegal, but is said to be very rare. J Mr. 

 R. J. Montgomery, having had good opportunities of observing 

 this species, kindly supplied me with the following information 

 in the spring of 1849 : — 



" The sanderling appears in Dublin Bay in small flocks, on the 



* Two specimens, belonging to my friend, R. K. Sinclaire, Esq. were killed by him 

 in Red Bay, county Antrim, on the 22nd of August, 1833. So early as the 22nd 

 or 23rd of July, he saw there, in company, a dunlin, three sanderlings, three red- 

 shanks, and nine ring dotterels ; most, if not all of which last, were adult birds. 



t On the 11th September, 1839, sanderlings were noted as haviug been about the 

 Long Strand, near Belfast, for some time ; one killed on that day exhibited on the 

 back a good deal of the blackish summer markings. On examination of the stomach 

 of another, obtained a few days afterwards, it was found wholly filled with minute 

 insects. 



X Mr. J. V. Stewart. 



