BRITISH BIRDS 



but on its breeding grounds in Grinnel Land, Col. Feilden noticed that the birds 

 fed largely on the buds of the little rock-plant, saxifraga oppositifolia. 



Describing this species at its breeding stations, he states (" Notes from an Arctic 

 Journal," Zoologist, 1879, pp. 102, 103), "The Knot has not the power of drumming 

 like the Common Snipe, but, after soaring in mid-air with outspread pinions, they 

 frequently descended to the ground. During this descent the wings were beaten 

 over the back with such rapid motion that a loud whirring noise was produced, 

 which might be heard at some distance. According to my observations, this action 

 was confined to the males and to the period of courtship." 



The sexes are much the same in colour. 



THE SANDERLING. 



Calidris arenaria, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 66. 



This restless little wader is common on the sandy parts of our shores in autumn 

 and also in spring, before leaving for its summer quarters in the far north. It 

 breeds in the Arctic portions of Siberia, in Greenland, and also in the circumpolar 

 regions of the New World, migrating southwards in autumn to spend the winter in 

 warmer lands, when it visits the southern parts of Africa, Asia, and America, and 

 also Australia. 



The nest is a slight depression in the ground, scantily lined with dry grass or 

 leaves, and contains four eggs. These, according to Seebohm {British Birds, 

 vol. iii. pp. 223, 224), are " buffish olive in ground-colour, thickly spotted with pale 

 olive brown, and with a few indistinct underlying markings of violet-grey." 



Like the Dunlin and other members of this family, the Sanderling may usually 

 be seen feeding close to the water's edge, nimbly running after the receding waves 

 and picking up tiny marine animals. 



It differs from its allies in having no hind toe, and when in the pale winter 

 dress of white and grey it is easily recognised even at a distance. 



This species shows a strong partiality for stretches of pure sand. 



38 



