SANDERLING. 



CALIDRIS ARENARIA {Linn.). 



Tringa arenaria, Linn. S. N. i. p. 251 (1766). 

 Calidris arenariaj Naum. vii. p. 353, xiii. p. 231 ; Macg. iv. 

 p. 237; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 420; Dresser, viii. p. 101. 



Sanderling variable, French ; Sanderling , German ; Chur- 

 rilla, Spanish. 



This species is tolerably common on the double 

 passage on many parts of our coast, generally appearing 

 early in August and remaining till cold weather sets in, 

 reappearing in April, and often lingering till the end of 

 May, or even later, upon the hard sands of our shores. 

 I have met with the Sanderling in small flocks almost 

 throughout the Mediterranean, and in many parts of 

 our own Islands, but do not recollect to have ever seen 

 it on the tidal muds that present attractions to the 

 great majority of the family of Waders. Occasionally, 

 but in my personal experience rarely, a few Sanderlings 

 may be found associating with Dunlins and Knots, but 

 I have generally met with them in companies composed 

 solely of their own species, varying in number from a 

 dozen to perhaps thirty or forty. With the exception 



