BIRDS 385 



been more numerous formerly, for T. C. Heysham wrote to 

 Dr. Drummond in October 1834: 'Within the last eight or 

 ten days a very large flock of Pigmy Curlews (Tringa subar- 

 quata) have been seen upon the coast in this locality, several of 

 which have been killed. This circumstance most materially 

 strengthens an opinion I have for some time entertained, that 

 this species is by no means rare on many parts of our coast/ 

 Again, a loose note of T. C. Heysham, dated November 2d, 

 1849, runs thus: 'Watson, the bird-stuffer, this day informed 

 me that he had seen large flocks of this bird on Rocklifle marsh 

 this autumn, and had shot several. I saw two of these birds 

 which he had mounted.' I usually meet with a few individuals 

 in September, generally upon the sands of an open estuary, often 

 in company with Dunlins or Ringed Plover, occasionally among 

 Little Stints. On Burgh marsh we surprised a solitary bird 

 feeding alone on a patch of black mud, September 17th, 1888 ; 

 but this Wader seldom frequents the higher marshes of the 

 Solway. The Curlew Sandpiper is more deliberative in its 

 actions than the Dunlin, and stalks, rather than runs, over the 

 estuary. It is not partial to salt creeks, at least not in the same 

 degree as the Dunlin. It has not been recorded from Raven- 

 glass, or from any inland station except Alston, near which 

 town the late B. Greenwell once obtained a specimen. But it 

 appears to occur sparingly in the neighbourhood of Morecambe 

 Bay. 



T. C. Heysham once wrote to Dr. Gough : ' I have not the 

 least doubt that the Pigmy Curlew and Little Sandpiper will 

 eventually be found on your coast {i.e. Morecambe Bay). In 

 the months of August and September the former sometimes 

 visits the shores of the Solway in considerable flocks, and fre- 

 quently in company with the Dunlin. On the contrary, the 

 Little Sandpiper is somewhat solitary, and seems to be partial 

 to the creeks of the salt marshes. The skins of the birds I sent 

 you I am fully aware are not worth your acceptance, and I 

 merely put them into the box under the impression that they 

 might possibly assist you in making out these birds, should they 

 at any time chance to fall in your way.' It does not appear 

 that Dr. Gough ever obtained the Little Stint on his coast, but 



2 B 



