DUNSIN. 



13 



most common. Yet there is one other bird that 

 I must notice, because it has not so much the 

 marine aspect as the gulls and cormorants : this 

 is the Dunlin Sandpiper {Tringa alpina), a 

 very interesting little bird, that frequents the 

 sandy shores in great numbers, for the purpose 

 of feeding on the insects and small crustaceans 

 that are found in such profusion, either buried 

 m the sand, or hidden under stones and drifted 

 sea-weeds. 



It is quite aware that on the edge of every 

 wave may be found the various substances which 

 constitute its food, and so skirts the very margin 

 of the sea, running hither and thither; and occa- 

 sionally venturing a few paces into the retiring 

 waters in chase of some detached limpet, some 

 houseless worm, or tiny crab, as restlessly, and 

 almost as untiringly, as the many-voiced waves 

 themselves. 



There is no difficulty in watching the habits 

 of this, or indeed of any other bird. All that 

 is required is perfect stillness and silence, and 

 the birds will come and pick up their food almost 

 within arm's reach. 



In the hot summer months the observer may 

 watch the sands without seeing a single Dunlin, 

 for they then desert the sea-shores in favour of 



