302 DUNLIN. 



formerly supposed to be two distinct species, and was 

 known as the Dunlin in summer and the Purre in 

 winter. It is the commonest of all our visitors on 

 spring and autumn migration, and is seen in flocks 

 of many thousands throughout the winter on our 

 coasts, while a fair number retire to the north of 

 Scotland and the Hebrides to breed ; a few also breed 

 in the wilder parts of England, but the great majority 

 depart to the far north of Europe, Iceland, Lapland 

 and Greenland. These birds are strictly gregarious, 

 being seldom seen alone, and their favourite haunts 

 in the winter are the muddy banks at the mouths of 

 our rivers, w'here they obtain their food — small worms 

 and marine insects. 



In breeding plumage the Dunlin has the general 

 colour of the upper parts bright chestnut, each 

 feather having a black centre, wrings greyish brown, 

 throat and breast grey with black centres, belly black, 

 the rest of the lower parts white. In winter the 

 general appearance of the upper parts is grey, and 

 the under parts are entirely white. The beak is an 

 inch and a quarter long. 



The nest is usually in the midst of the heather, 

 sheltered by an overhanging tuft, and is difficult to 

 find. It is always on the ground, and consists of a 

 slight hollow, lined with a few twigs and dry grass. 



Four eggs are laid, which, according to Hewitson, 

 are among the most beautiful of all British eggs. 

 They vary from bluish greeo to light brown in ground 

 colour, richly spotted and blotched w^ith reddish 

 brown and blackish spots. On some eggs the spots 

 are oblique. The hen bird sits very close, and will 

 sometimes even allow herself to be removed from 

 the nest with the hand. Hewitson mentions an in- 



