114 PLOVER GROUP 



making its appearance chiefly in Dublin and Belfast Bays. In India, 

 where it usually arrives in August or September and departs in May, 

 it is chiefly found in flocks on the margins of tanks, marshes, and 

 estuaries, or on the coast. 



The stint (or the dunlin) may be cited as an excellent instance 

 of the force of example, for this bird so closely resembles the dunlin, 

 with which it constantly associates, both in general appearance and 

 habits, that were it not for the markedly inferior size of the present 

 bird, it would be difficult to distinguish between the two species in 

 their native haunts. Indeed, so identical are the habits of the two 

 birds that as reference is made later on to those of the dunlin, it 

 would be superfluous to make any observations with regard to the 

 mode of life of the species now under consideration. Consequently, 

 it will suffice to mention that the nest is a mere hollow in the turf 

 of the tundra, sparsely lined with willow-leaves or other vegetable 

 substances, and situated within easy distance of tidal water ; and that 

 the four eggs, which in length measure only just over an inch, have 

 a ground-colour varying from pale greenish grey to pale brown or 

 buff, upon which are spots and blotches, or in some instances large 

 smears forming a cap at the larger end, of faintly rufous brown, 

 together with inconspicuous underlying markings of pale grey. It 

 may be added that the incubating bird displays great solicitude and 

 performs strange antics when the nest is approached, sometimes 

 coming almost within arm's length of the intruder on the vast solitudes 

 in which these little waders are wont to nest. 



It may be added, in conclusion, that when in the field the stint 

 in non-breeding plumage may be recognised by the presence of a 

 buff chevron on the back with the point directed towards the tail ; 

 the whole mark being of a lighter tint than the rest of the plumage. 

 In the breeding-dress the mark is less conspicuous, as it also is in 

 skins prepared for study purposes. 



Temminck's Stint -^'"^^ ^^^^ American stint, Tringa minutcUa {Limonites 



(Trine-a niiftutclla of some ornithologists), which is a con- 



temmincki) sidcrably smaller bird than the last, had only been 



recorded three times from the British Isles (once 



in Cornwall in 1853, and twice in Devon, 1869 and 1882), up to the 



end of the last centur}', it clearly has no claim to be regarded as 



any more than an extremely rare straggler, and needs no detailed 



notice. On the other hand, Temminck's stint, known to some writers 



as Limonites temviincki, although much rarer than the little stint, is 



