108 WADING BIRDS. 



bringing its dark and white plumage into view, it forms a 

 very grand and imposing spectacle of the sublime instinct 

 and power of nature. At such times, however, the keen gun- 

 ner, without losing much time in empty contemplation, makes 

 prodigious slaughter in the timid ranks of the Purres; while 

 as the showers of their companions fall, the whole body of- 

 ten alight, or descend to the surface with them, until the 

 greedy sportsman becomes satiated with destruction. 



The Dunlins breed plentifully on the Arctic coasts of 

 America, nesting on the ground in the herbage, laying 3 or 

 4 very large eggs, of an oil-green, marked with irregular 

 spots of liver-brown, of different sizes and shades, confluent 

 at the laro-er end. Mr. Pennant also received the ecro-s of 

 tliis kind from Denmark, so that the range in which they 

 breed, no less than that in which they migrate, is very ex- 

 tensive. 



The length of the Dunlin is from 8, to 8J inches. The bill black, 

 about an inch long. In the winter plumage of the adults of both sexes, 

 the throat, line from the upper mandible to the eye, all the under 

 parts, (with the exception of the 3 exterior feathers of the under tail 

 Qoveits,) pure white. Breast whitish-ash. A line between the bill 

 and eye, and all the upper parts of a greyish-brown, v/ith deeper tints 

 along the shafts of the feathers. Rump, intermediate feathers of the 

 upper tail coverts, and the two middle feathers of the tail, of a black- 

 ish-brown ; lateral tail feathers cinereous, bordered with white. Iris, 

 and feet of a blackish-broWn. — T. ciJicItis, of authors. 



A''tiptial and summer plumage. The tliroat white, face, sides and fore 

 part of the neck, sides of the head and breast, white, faintly tinged 

 with rufous, the feathers streaked lengthv/ise with black. Vent and 

 abdomen wholly black, often, according to the epoch of the year, varied 

 with some white feathers. Feathers of the head, black in their centres, 

 bordered with rufous brown. Back, scapulars, and greater coverts, 

 black, the black widely bordered with bright rufous, and tipt v.'ith 

 whitish-ash. The 3 lateral feathers of the upper tail coverts v/hite 

 only on their outer barbs. Tail feathers blackish-ash, bordered with 

 white. — T. alpina, of authors. T. variabilis, Meyer. Temm. 



