214 TRINGA CINCLUS. 



Cinclus. A male shot in the Pentland Hills in June, 1840, 

 and a female shot at Ythan Mouth on the 17th of May, 1851, 

 besides being of comparatively small size, have less black on 

 the breast, and that copiously intermixed with white, the 

 feathers having only a large spot toward the end. The birds 

 that visit the eastern coasts of Scotland in autumn seem in 

 general much larger ; but observations are wanting on this 

 subject. 



In September and October the Dunlins are often exceed- 

 ingly fat, the quantity of adipose matter that covers the 

 abdomen externally, and distends it from within, being truly 

 surprising. In this respect, however, they do not differ 

 from the other species of the genus. I have found minute 

 testaceous mollusca in the stomach of this bird, and fre- 

 quently small white worms from a quarter to half-an-inch in 

 length, along with mud and mineral particles. 



