210 TRINGA CINCLUS. 



both species, when resting by day, either stand or lie on the 

 ground. When one advances within a hundred yards of such 

 a flock, it is pleasant to see them stretch up their wings, as if 

 preparing for flight, utter a few low notes, and immediately 

 stand on the alert, or run a short way ; but at this season 

 they are not at all shy. Towards the end of August, the 

 different colonies betake themselves to the sea-shore. On 

 the large sand-fords of the outer Hebrides, I have at this 

 season seen many thousands at once, running about with 

 great activity in search of food. After a few weeks the hosts 

 break up and disperse, few if any remaining during the 

 winter. On most parts of the sandy coasts of the main 

 land, however, they are then plentiful, and in England are 

 equally so. 



The above account of the habits of the Dunlin is entirely 

 the result of my own observation. Besides collecting in- 

 formation and procuring specimens, I have, before penning 

 it, betaken myself to the shores of the Firth of Forth, to 

 observe its manners once more, and procure fresh individuals, 

 of which five, shot by myself on the 11th of October, 1837, 

 are now (the 12th) on my table. On consulting various 

 books, I observe nothing recorded in them that has not 

 occurred to myself. I have, therefore, only to add that the 

 flesh of the Dunlin is dark, and not remarkably good, being 

 much inferior to that of the Snipe ; but that the eggs are 

 delicious. 



P.S. In the history of a bird many little circumstances 

 occur which few people think it worth while to notice, but 

 which are of the greatest importance, both as illustrative of 

 the habits of the species and as indicative of its affinities. 

 Thus, having at various times collected by observation a 

 number of particulars relative to the Dunlin, and having 

 related them as above, I yet found that some things were 

 wanting, which I might indeed imagine, as others have done 

 in like cases, but which it seemed to me necessary to see 

 with my own eyes. I therefore, on the 9th of September, 

 1840, walked to Musselburgh, where I was informed that 

 the Sandpipers were very abundant; and having betaken 

 myself to the mouth of the Esk soon after the tide had 



