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According to Mr. Robert Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 261), it is " a very common shore bird on the 

 west of Scotland, especially on its arrival from its breeding-haunts in the north. On the outer 

 islands it is plentiful on the sands at low tide between Benbecula and North Uist towards the end 

 of August, by which time it has completely assumed the winter plumage. It is never," he adds, 

 " so far as I am aware, seen at this season with even the remains of its summer dress — a contrast 

 to the Dunlin and Turnstone, both of which occur (in the same place with the Sanderling) clad 

 in nearly as brilliant plumage as at the height of the breeding-season. It is a common species in 

 autumn on the Ayrshire coast, but disappears from these shores after a few weeks' residence. In 

 early spring it returns to our estuaries and salt-water lochs, and has then changed its colour. 

 Stray birds are seen occasionally so late as the beginning of June ; but this depends altogether 

 on the state of the season." Dr. Saxby says that it seldom remains in Shetland more than a few 

 days at the two seasons of passage. Formerly he used to think it might breed there, as he has 

 seen it in the north of Uist in June, and even as late as the commencement of July ; but later 

 investigation has convinced him that such is not the case. 



In Ireland the Sanderling is occasionally met with in autumn and winter on most parts 

 of the coast where the shores are flat. 



In Greenland, Professor Newton states, it is scarce, and is said not to breed further south 

 than lat. 68° N., but the young have been obtained at Godthaab. It was found on the east 

 coast by Graah, and by the German expedition on Sabine Island, where it was breeding ; and 

 it is said to have been found breeding in considerable numbers on the Parry Islands. Captain 

 H. W. Feilden, naturalist to the late Arctic expedition, sends me the following note on the 

 present species, viz. : — " We found the Sanderling not uncommon along the shores of the Polar 

 basin during the summer, and first noticed it on the 5th June, 1876, flying in company with 

 Knots and Turnstones. I found a nest on the 24th June, in lat. 82° 33' N., containing two 

 eggs, on which the male bird was sitting. In the month of August we saw several family parties 

 of this species on the shores of Robeson's Channel ; and the young birds were then hardly able 

 to fly. Dr. Bessels informs me that he procured many nests of the Sanderling near Thank-God 

 Harbour in lat. 81° 38' N." Professor Newton says, " in Iceland it is possibly more common 

 than has been thought. Faber, and after him Mr. Procter, observed it on Grimsey, where it has 



been said to breed In 1858 I saw several in the south-west, and shot a female with a very 



backward ovary, on the 21st May, at Bsejasker. Mr. Fowler saw it in 1862 at Akranes." 

 Captain Feilden says that he did not see it during his stay in the Faeroes ; but Wolley mentions 

 having seen a pair there towards the end of June 1849. On the shores of Scandinavia it is 

 met with in spring and autumn; and Mr. R. Collett informs me that it occurs on passage all 

 along the west coast of Norway, and in some localities is very numerous in the autumn. This 

 is especially the case in Jsederen, one of the most suitable places for Waders, a flat, sandy shore 

 south of Stavanger ; and here flocks of the present species are to be seen with Sandpipers, 

 Plovers, Ruffs, and Godwits late in August, leaving in September. It is usually seen in separate 

 flocks, but sometimes together with other Limicolse. In other parts of the coast it is rarer, and 

 is seldom seen in the interior. In Finmark it is, on the whole, rare. Lilljeborg observed it at 

 Tromso in August. All those shot by Mr. Collett in the autumn were in full autumn dress, and 

 usually in immature plumage. In the spring of the year it is much less numerous than in the 



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