DUNLIN 



123 



them on the feathers of the under-parts indicate young birds after the 

 first spring moult. 



In many respects the curlew-sandpiper resembles a knot, but, in 

 addition to the shape of the beak, it may be at once distinguished by 

 its inferior size, the length of the female not exceeding 7 inches. 



The curlew-sandpiper appears to have a somewhat limited breeding- 

 range, being definitely known to nest only in the lower course of the 

 Yenisei in Eastern Siberia. In Europe, where it ranges as far west 

 as Scandinavia and the British Islands, although apparently unknown 

 in the Faroes and Iceland, it occurs as a spring and autumn migrant, 

 more generally seen in the latter than in the former season. In 

 winter its wanderings extend as far south as Australia, India, and 

 other parts of southern Asia, and 

 South Africa. In the British 

 Islands it is commoner on the 

 east coast of England and Scot- 

 land than elsewhere, and in 

 Ireland, where it is always rare, 

 is less unfrequent in the autumn 

 than in the winter and spring : it 

 has been observed in the southern 

 counties of England so late as 

 November and December. The 

 species, both in England and 

 India, occurs in flocks of variable 

 size, which frequent flat shores 

 or shingle-beaches, where they 



may either feed by themselves or associate with dunlins and other small 

 waders. In regard to habits these birds are indeed so like dunlins, 

 that no special remarks are needed on this subject ; and at a distant 

 view curlew-sandpipers may be easily mistaken for dunlins unless the 

 white rump-patch is noticed. The nest and eggs of this species were 

 first discovered on the Yenisei in July 1897. The eggs in the one 

 clutch then obtained measured just under an inch and a half in length, 

 and closely resembled in colour and markings those of the snipe. 



THE ROWLAND WARD ST 



CUKI.EU-SANDI'IPEK. 



Dunlin (Tpine-a ^^'^^Y on earth such a typical shore-bird as the 

 alpina) dunlin, or dunling (meaning probably the little dun- 



coloured wader) should be scientifically designated 

 by such a palpable misnomer as alpina, passes comprehension ; and 

 in the present writer's opinion such a thoroughly inappropriate name 



