Abstract

I HAVE often intended writing to you describing a curious occurrence which I witnessed on the coast of Queensland in September 1889, but I have as often forgotten to do so when the opportunity came. While out shooting, along a sandy beach, I noticed a small muddy patch just covered by the rising tide. In this I observed a bird, a sand-piper, which seemed to be striving in vain to rise. I could not think how the bird had become caught, but on coming up to it I found that one claw of one foot was firmly held by a large cockle (about 1½. by 2 in.). Of course the bird would have been drowned eventually (though the benefit to be derived by the cockle seems rather problem atical); and though it seemed to be aware of its danger, yet it had made no attempt to free itself by trying to bite through the claw, as one sometimes reads of animals doing when caught in traps. As I believe this is rather an uncommon incident, I must make that my excuse for troubling you.

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