2 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



occasionally the Kinged Plover doubles back in an attempt to 

 secure whatever a Dunlin is on the point of taking. Sometimes 

 Dunlins working independently of other species alight to probe 

 for a short time, and fly away without having found anything of 

 value as food. This is true especially of smooth stretches of 

 sand. At the same time, they are quite able to find their own 

 food, and a large part of their feeding is done in the absence of 

 other species, or in places where the mingling of species is 

 a coincidence. 



The relation of this species to others may be regarded from a 

 different point of view. Dunlins in search of food are remarkably 

 easy of approach ; at rest and in the company of other waders 

 they are not so confiding. Their absorption in the work of 

 finding food is apparently complete until the cries of the other 

 species, most of them alert to a degree, warn the Dunlins to 

 beware. When Kinged Plovers give the warning I find usually 

 that the Plovers alight first and the Dunlins later. Where 

 Dunlins are asleep, a few Ringed Plovers may be standing wide- 

 awake or running about amongst the sleeping birds, ready to 

 call at the approach of danger. It is not that the Dunlins need 

 the warning, for they are less approachable when they are 

 sleeping than when they are feeding actively. 



I am inclined to believe that Dunlins are more partial to the 

 company of other waders as the shooting season advances, 

 especially in districts where they are harassed severely. In 

 spring and autumn they are seen more often alone. On one 

 occasion I witnessed a peculiar action by two members of a party 

 of Dunlins and Kinged Plovers which were resting on the high- 

 water mark — the Plovers watchful as usual, the Dunlins appa- 

 rently asleep. About an hour after the time of full tide, when 

 the latter were waking up and stretching their wings, an in- 

 dividual of each species detached itself from the flock and ran 

 some fifty yards over the sand to the water-line. The Kinged 

 Plover led the way, and the Dunlin followed closely. Arriving 

 at the water-line the Plover looked about and ran quickly to 

 certain spots, in which it dug its bill, the Dunlin inspecting and 

 tapping the same spots after the Plover. Having done this the 

 Plover turned and ran back to the flock with the Dunlin imme- 

 diately behind probing here and there on the way. The flock 



