DUNLIN. 371 



TRINGA VARIABILIS, Meyer and Wolf. 



DUNLIN". 



With, the exception of a very short period, during 

 the height of the breeding season, the Dunlin, Purre,"^ 

 or Stint (as it is commonly termed in Norfolk), is found 

 on our coast in more or less abundance throughout the 

 year. As early sometimes as the first week in July, 

 young and old together, in family groups, may be met 

 with on oar shores, in localities also where, later in 

 the season, they are but rarely seen; and these, after 

 roving awhile over the weed-covered rocks and shingle, 

 join the later migratory flocks in their more accustomed 

 haunts, such as the mud-fiats of Breydon, and the ouzy 

 margins of our tidal channels at Blakeney and Lynn. 

 Indeed, the entire coast line to the north and west, 

 from Cley harbour to the further shores of the Wash, 

 backed by a wide range of saltmarshes, affords both 

 at high and low water the most favourable conditions 

 for this abundant species. From Mr. Dowell's notes I 

 find that in 1848 many flocks had arrived about Blakeney 



Gurney's bird, has a wing of 5.16 in. This species, the oldest 

 name of which seems to be Tringa maculata, Vieillot, is of frequent 

 occurrence in most parts of America, and is commonly known 

 in the United States as the ' Jack-snipe.' " 



* This term, as used by Pennant and other early authors, 

 referred to this species in its winter garb, the name of dunlin 

 being applied to the same bird in its summer dress until these 

 seasonal changes of plumage became better understood. Again, 

 Sir Thomas Browne, speaking of the abundance of stints upon 

 " the shore and marshes about StiflFkey, Burnham, and other 

 parts," says there is " Another small bird, somewhat larger than a 

 stint, called a churr, and is commonly taken among them." Churr 

 is here, no doubt, used for purre, and the bird mentioned, was 

 probably a full-sized dunlin in one of its various stages of 

 plumage. 



3 B 3 



