382 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



edge within tliree yards of my feet, I at once recognised 

 the species though struck by their diminutive forms. 



To Mr. Cordeaux I am indebted for specimens from 

 the Lincolnshire coast of what he terms " drain " 

 dunlins, owing to the localities in which he generally 

 finds them; but although the two I have seen do not 

 appear referable to the smaller race, yet the habits 

 and actions of the " drain " dunlins, as observed by 

 Mr, Cordeaux during several seasons, are of so dis- 

 tinctive a character as to deserve special notice. Of 

 these birds he writes — "I occasionally meet with a 

 pair or two about our larger marsh drains, feeding 

 on the narrow strips of ' warp ' left between the 

 water and the grass. I have never recognised them 

 on the ^ flats,' the resort of the common race, nor 

 do the larger dunlins ever feed in our fresh water 

 drains.'^ When flushed in the drains, in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the Humber embankment, they usually 

 fly up the drain and not on to the * flats,' and if 

 towards the ^flats' will '-wing round' and pitch again 

 in the drain. They are extremely tame and fearless, 

 and in this respect differ singularly from the shy, wild, 

 Humber dunlins, which, from constant persecution by 

 the bank shooters, become unapproachable save by 

 stratagem. I have some times sat on the drain bank 

 watching these fearless little birds probing the mud 

 within a few yards of my feet. They do not pack 

 together in flocks. I have never observed more than 

 three at the same time. They are almost always seen 

 in pairs, and exhibit the strongest attachment for each 

 other. I shot one of a pair on our main drain during 

 the winter months ; the distress of the survivor was 

 most pitiful, flying backwards and forwards, and all the 



* The dunlins before mentioned as shot by Mr. Harting out of 

 the marsh " dykes," near Breydon, were of the ordinary type. 



