the winter in fmall flocks^ at the mouths of rivers. In fearch 
of worms and marine infedts, which they fcoop out of the 
mud or fand, at the fame time making a noife with their 
bills fimilar to that made by ducks, when engaged in the famxe 
purfuit. Latham informs us, " they lay two eggs, the fize 
of thofe of a pigeon, of a cinerous grey, fingularly marked 
with deep brownifn dark patches, of irregular fizes and fhapes, 
befules fome under markings of a dufky hue." 
They are very tenacious of their young, will counterfeit 
jamenefs, and exert themfelves to the utmoft, in endeavouring 
to divert the attention of an intruder from their nefi: ; when a 
flock is difturbed, they immediately take wing, firetching out 
their necks and extending their legs behind," and continue to 
flutter about the fpe6i:ator, in a manner fimilar to the Lap- 
wing, uttering at the fame time a yelping cry of /wit, tvjtt. 
Their motions are lively and a6live, feldom remaining ^of 
any length of time in the fame fpot : though web-footed they 
feldom go beyond wading depth ; fhould they get into deep 
water, they feem to make no exertion to fwimj, but float for 
miles without any appearance of fatigue, and reach the fliorq 
merely by the force of the current. 
