230 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



and is found in small parties, and occasionally in very large 

 flocksj on tlie beacli and sands as well as on the mud flats. 



When disturhed on the sea-side they fly in a compact body 



and make a semicircular excursion over the sea, returning to 



the beach at a few hundred yards distance, During these 



flights the whole body wheel and turn all together, showing 



at one moment the dark plumage of the back, and at the 



next the pure white of the underparts, and uttering a loud 



but somewhat soft cry, •' Tui, Tui." While feeding the bird 



runs very swiftly, and is very restless, constantly shifting 



from place to place, following each receding wave and picking 



up marine insects, worms, and small Crustacea. It seldom 



proceeds up the rivers beyond the influence of the tide. It 



goes northward to breed on the moors of England and 



Scotland, sometimes on mountains at a considerable height 



above the sea, forming the nest in a dry tuft of sedge or 



rushes, lining it with small pieces of grass and heather. 



LITTLE STINT. 

 Tringa minuta. 



In the latter part of May, or the beginning of June, small 

 parties of this little wader may be found along the coast, 

 many more arriving in August and September. Mr. Booth 

 mentions that a heavy gale from the south-east not unfre- 

 queutly brings numbers to the coast of Sussex as late as 

 October, thus checking their southerly migration. It is 

 occasionally met with on the mud of the harbour at Shore- 

 ham, and in the salt-marshes in the neighbourhood, in fact 

 on suitable spots all along the coast. In the eastern division 

 one of its favourite haunts was formerly a piece of marsh 



