2 
CUE LEW SANDPIPER. 
rapidly across the flats apparently secured the small worms and other insects usually extracted by the 
majority of Waders. After a stormy night large quantities of Plovers, a few Godwits and Knots, together 
with several parties of Terns were on the water early on the morning of the 26th. I did not recognize 
a single Curlew Sandpiper; hut on picking up the results of a shot with the big gun into a flock of Knots, 
a specimen in full winter plumage was discovered in the midst of the slain. This bird, though exhibiting 
the winter dress, would sliortly have moulted, being thickly covered with red pin-feathers, a few of 
wliich had hurst, hut were invisible till carefully looked for. No other Curlew Sandpipei’s were seen this 
season, though Breydon flats were closely watched till the end of the montli. 
In the spring of 1872 I was on the Sussex coast and failed to recognize this species among the 
flocks of AVaders frequenting Shoreham Ilarbour and the flat coast-line on towards AVorthing. 
Tliough the whole of May 1873 was passed on Breydon it was only on the 16th that this species 
was observed. The day was cold Avith a fresh easterly lu’eeze and several Plovers and Godwits made 
their appearance on the flats. One Curlew Sandpiper which had partially acquired the summer plumage 
was shot and another (a dark red bird in full dress of the adult male) passed the punt so rapidly, flying 
due cast, that there was not even time to snatch up the shoulder-gun. 
Being absent for some years during spring on the Scotch coasts and various parts of the country 
apparently out of tlie usual range of this species, it was not till May 1881 that I again fell in with 
an adult Curlew Sandpiper. Several small parties of Godwits, Grey Plovers, and Knots having arrived on 
the muds in Shoreham Ilarbour on the 10th of May, I Avas on the spot early on the 11th. A cold 
breeze from the north-east blew over the flats soon after sunrise, the Avind being especially suitable at this 
date to bring \Aaders along the coast. A flock of some twenty birds Avere soon made out on the flats, 
feeding gradually before the rising tide toAvards the embankment enclosing the river. This small 
gathering proA'ed to be a mixed party composed of GodAAuts, Grey Plovers, Knots, Dunlins, and a single 
CurleAv Sandpiper. Ihe latter, I soon discovered, Avas a male in the finest stage of summer plumage; and 
the Avhole number being utterly unsuspicious of danger, there was not the slightest difficulty in examining 
them tlioioughly by means of the glasses. In addition to this handsome specimen tAvm brightly coloured 
Knots fell to the shot. As tlie survivors Avere not molested, they remained about the flats all day^ 
betaking themselves at high Avater to the shingle-hanks. 
lo record every instance Avhere the adults (changing from summer into Avinter plumage) have 
been met with in autumn is unnecessary. In 1871, 1872, and 1873 I noticed numbers on ^Breydon 
during August and September. Several exhibited the transformation of plumage in a most singular 
manner, the breast at times retaining its red colouring, while grey and white feathers had made their 
appearance on the back. In these stages CurleAV Sandpipers are not uncommon in Shoreham Ilarbour and 
other flats on the Sussex coast. 
AAith the exception of the bird shoAving the grey feathers of Avinter, shot on Breydon on May 26, 
1871, I have met with but one other specimen in the same state of plumage; this was obtained near 
Shoreham early in November 1875, being at the time in company Avith a small flock of Dunlins. 
^ The young of the year usually reacli our shores in autumn, much about the same date as the adults. 
I find the earliest arrival on the coast of Sussex is recorded, in my notes for 1859, under date of August 
30th. Ihis season birds m immature plumage were especially numerous about the Nook at Rye, and also 
on the flooded marshes stretching toAvards AVinchelsea. The folloAving year large flocks Avere also met 
with m the same locality, the birds being especially plentiful on September Uth. Though occasionally 
intermixing with Dunlins, they showed their predilection for the company of Stints {Tringa minuta), flocks 
numbering from forty to fifty composed entirely of these two species being often seen. In 1861 a 
considerable portion of the flats forming the Nook were drained: after more 'than one tailure a sea-wall 
