THE BIRDS OF DUNGENESS. 63 



anywhere, either on the grass-land or the shingle. There is a con- 

 siderable traffic in their eggs during the early months of the spring. 

 In all of the nests that I found there were clutches of only three eggs, 

 and, as they were also all hard-sat, this was the full clutch laid in these 

 particular cases. When the nest is made on the shingle there is gener- 

 ally some attempt at lining it with grass, although in one case the 

 eggs were laid right on the stones. July 16th-21st. At this date 

 there was not a single Lapwing to be seen on the beach proper. 

 There were, however, large numbers of them, old and young birds, on 

 the marsh and meadow lands ; but they seemed to have quite deserted 

 the shingle. 



Common Snipe (Gallinago ccelestis). — May 13th. I disturbed a single 

 bird of this species by the side of a ditch. My companion told me, 

 however, that he had never heard of a nest being found in the district. 

 Dunlin (Tringa alpina). — May 10th-14th. Small flocks of this 

 bird are numerous in suitable places on the beach. I caught one that 

 had at some time or other lost one of its wings. I was told that there 

 are often maimed birds like this feeding with flocks of sound ones. 

 This specimen was in perfect plumage and fat condition. It was 

 feeding with a small mob of its fellows, and my attention was called 

 to it by its not taking flight when its companions rose at my approach. 

 July 16th-21st. I did not notice any Dunlin on this occasion. 



Eedshank (Totanus calidris). — Local name, " Ked-legs." May 

 10th-14th. A most conspicuous bird everywhere, on account of its loud 

 whistle and bold behaviour when anyone is near its nest. It is com- 

 mon both on the beach and on the marsh-land. Nests were to be 

 found at this date with both fresh and hard-sat eggs in them. One 

 nest I found was made right on the shingle, with only the scantiest 

 lining of grass and lichen. June 3rd. I found a nest in a patch of 

 grass on the beach with one fresh egg in it. The nest, however, had 

 the appearance of being deserted. July 16th-21st. The Eedshanks, 

 like the Lapwings, had quite deserted the beach proper, nor were they 

 numerous anywhere else. I only saw five birds on this occasion, and 

 they were some distance inland, near a piece of water on the marsh. 



Common Curlew (Numenius arquata). — May 10th-14th. Saw single 

 birds, and also several flocks of this species flying inland from the sea- 

 coast. During my two later visits I saw none of these birds. 



Whimbrel (N. phceopus). — May 13th. Picked up a recently shot 

 specimen of this bird by the side of a ditch inland. 



Common Tern (Sterna fluviatilis). — Local name, "Kip." — May 10th- 

 14th. There were plenty of these birds about the beach and sea-coast at 

 this date, but they had not yet begun to lay. June 3rd-4th. Now nesting 



