458 SCOLOPACID.^. 



gouty. Frequently they chase a receding wave for the 

 sake of recovering a prize which has been swept from the 

 beach ; never venturing to swim, but showing no fear of 

 wetting either feet or feathers. AVhile engaged in these 

 various ways, they often keep up a short conversational 

 twitter, in a tone, however, so low that it can only be 

 heard at a very short distance. While flying, they fre- 

 quently utter a much louder piping note, which can 

 readily be distinguished from the call of the other sea- 

 side birds. I observed that a small detached flock, when 

 disturbed, generally flew ofi^" to a great distance ; but if 

 other birds were feeding in the neighbourhood, they more 

 frequently ahghted near them, as if assured by their 

 presence that no danger was to be apprehended. 



Dunlins are not considered to breed in Norfolk ; but in 

 many parts of Scotland, in the Hebrides and Orkneys, 

 " they frequent the haunts selected by the Golden Plovers, 

 with which they are so frequently seen in comj)any, that 

 they have popularly obtained the name of Plovers' Pages. 

 Sometimes before the middle of April, but always before 

 that of May, they are seen dispersed over the moors in 

 pairs like the birds just named, which, at this season, 

 they greatly resemble in habits. The nest, which is 

 composed of some bits of withered grass, or sedge, and 

 small twigs of heath, is placed in a slight hollow, generally 

 on a bare spot, and usually in a dry place, like that 

 selected by the Golden Plover, The female lays four eggs, 

 and sits very assiduously, often allowing a person to come 

 quite close to her before removing, which she does in a 

 fluttering and cowering manner." * 



In a few specimens which I obtained, the bill was 

 considerably curved downwards throughout its whole 

 length, thus approaching in form that of the Pigmy 

 Curlew ; but the dusky upper tail-coverts sufiiciently dis- 

 tinguished it from its rarer congener. 

 * Macgillivray. 



