LARGE SAND-DOTTEREL. 
Mr. J. P. Rogers, writing from Derby, North-west Australia, says : “ This 
is the commonest wader here. It is seen in large flocks up to perhaps one 
hundred individuals. In December, 1910, they were not so plentiful, but 
by February, 1911, they were most abundant. They are usually found on the 
beach. At Point Torment they were also common, and by the 22nd February, 
1911, some began to assume their breeding dress. In April they were still 
common. Here one sees flocks containing many species of waders, but when 
disturbed the Curlew and Whimbrel go ofi by themselves and usually small 
flocks of other species will split off, but the bulk of the birds go off in one large 
flock. Late in the season the birds of each species seem more and more 
inchned to congregate only with those of their own kind, although all large 
flocks seemed to have several individuals of other species. 
“ At times these birds feed on grassy flats, but the shore or mud flats is 
their usual feeding ground. On one occasion I saw a small party of these 
birds perched on some dead mangroves at high spring tides ; all the mud 
flats were covered right out to the edges of the grass. This is the only time 
I have seen this species perch.” 
Mr. Rogers also found it the commonest Wader on Melville Island, in 
November, 1911. “ It is never found except on tidal salt creeks, and the sea 
shore. They frequent mud banks, sandy or shingle beaches. When wounded 
it can swim.” 
Swinhoe* writes : “On all the coasts of Southern Asia. Somewhat 
rare on Chinese coast. Common in Formosa where it stays the whole year 
and breeds.” This statement does not appear to be correct. The eggs 
collected are easily seen to belong to some other bird, and have been 
recognised as those of the Painted Snipe. 
Danfordf records that he found this species plentiful near Kir-shehir 
in Asia Minor ; they were on the point of laying.” \ 
La Touche J observes : “ Passes Foochow in April and May, and again 
from the end of July to, at least, the end of September.” 
The bird figured and described, in full breeding-plumage, was collected 
at Point Torment, in North-west Austraha on April 18th, 1911, by Mr. J. P. 
Rogers. The bird in winter-plumage was collected at the same place by the 
same man. 
In the 2nd Supplement to the General Synopsis of Birds, p. 315, 1801, 
under the heading “ Sanderling,” is written : “ This species is found in New 
South Wales, but not plentifully ; the bill is rather shorter than in the European 
* Proc. Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1863, p. 309. 
f Ibis 1880, p. 94. 
lib. 1892, p. 496. 
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