Their Eggs and Nests. 173 



north of Scotland, the Hebrides, Orkneys and other 

 islands near. Their nests are placed on the ground, 

 among long grass and ling, and alwa^^s contain four 

 eggs. Mr. Hewitson says : — " In beauty of colouring 

 and elegance of form the eggs of the Dunlin are un- 

 rivalled. The ground-colour is sometimes of a clear 

 light green, richly spotted with light brown ; some- 

 times the ground-colour is of a bluish-white." The 

 hen will suffer herself to be removed from her nest by 

 the hand rather than leave her eggs. — Fig. 3, plate IX, 



LITTLE ^Tmi;:—{Tringa mimita\ 



Not to be described altogether as a rare little bird, 

 for it seems to be met with sometimes in autumn on 

 the southern and eastern coasts in some numbers, and 

 even in flocks of twenty or thirty together. They are 

 often seen in company with the Dunlin or other small 

 shore-birds. Much more is known about their breed- 

 ing places or habits than used to be the case. It breeds 

 in Siberia, and other northern localities. 



AMERICAN ^TmT—{Tringa minutella). 

 Twice met with in England. 



TEMMINCK'S ^Tl^T—{Tringa TemmincHi). 



Less even than the Little Stint, and much more rare ; 

 besides which it frequents fresh waters rather than the 

 sea-shore. No very great number of them, however, 

 has been met with in England. 



