ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM ROMNEY MARSH. 109 



plovers. The bird seldom makes any demonstration in the way 

 of a call-note, it creeps away like a mouse through the dry beach 

 grass, which it resembles so closely in colour. To lie down flat 

 on the beach, armed with a good pair of field glasses, is the 

 only chance of success, and then one may be rewarded, after 

 a considerable period of watching, by seeing a little brown 

 thing wending its way back to its nest, stopping now and 

 again, and, when in close proximity of its treasure, standing 

 motionless for many minutes together. When the eggs are 

 hatched the bird is even still more wary. It often drops 

 the food close to the young without even alighting. I have 

 found that the male of this species undertakes the sole task of 

 incubation. 



On May 29th, the first flock of Sanderling appeared. They 

 were in full summer dress. The female of this species seems 

 more backward in assuming the nuptial dress than the male. 

 A female out of this flock was obtained with plumage hardly 

 differing from that attained in autumn. The last flock of these 

 birds were seen here on June 2nd. 



A pair of Dotterel appeared here on May 29th — a rather 

 late date for this bird. They remained in a field of young peas, 

 close to the shore, for several days. 



On May 30th, two pairs of Common Sandpiper appeared 

 along one of the dykes, but disappeared a few days later. I 

 have searched in vain for the nest of this species in many 

 portions of Kent, and have carefully watched the birds, but 

 they never remained for any length of time in the locality. 

 Knox in his Ornithological Bambles, p. 231, says of this bird, 

 " It is frequently met with on the banks of inland streams, 

 among the grassy borders of which the nest is placed." This 

 can hardly be taken as evidence of this species having nested 

 even in Sussex during his day. The breeding haunts of the 

 Common Sandpiper must be looked for on higher altitudes than 

 are to be found in Kent and Sussex. 



June 3rd : saw a number of Dunlin, with black breasts — a 

 somewhat late date. As far as my experience goes, none of 

 the adults remain here during the entire summer. When 

 feeding, the Dunlins seem convinced of the justice of the rule, 

 '•' Share and share alike." Extended order is either formed, or, 



