48 THE LIMICOLEZ OF THE CLYDE ARBA. 
*Dunlin (7. alpina, L.)—The dunlin is the most abundant 
wader from autumn to spring on the shores of the Firth. In 
summer comparatively few are seen at the coast, as the 
majority have retired northwards or to inland nesting localities. 
A few, however, nest on wet ground by the shore in certain 
districts. Those birds which breed inland begin to return to 
their haunts towards the middle of April. In the nesting 
season the bird is local, and only in one or two districts is it 
common, affecting upland grassy moors in the vicinity of sheets 
of water. The nest is usually well concealed among withered 
grass, and the eggs, which are very pretty, are laid from the 
30th of April onwards, By the end of July old and young have 
left the nesting grounds, but dunlins, which are on passage, 
may be seen regularly by the margins of lochs and reservoirs 
till the end of October—sometimes till the middle of Novem- 
ber. They are also noticed on passage, but in smaller 
numbers, in April and May. In breeding plumage the dunlin 
is a handsome little bird with a conspicuous black breast 
and back variegated with chestnut and black. Its best-known 
note is a trilling one, somewhat like the sound of a feeble 
alarm-whistle. 
Little Stint (7. minuta, Leisler)—The little stint is rather 
scarce, occurring on the shore in small parties, usually in autumn. 
Inland a few birds were seen at Balgray Dam in September, 
1905. When seen in autumn the little stint has the appear- 
ance of a small dunlin with light margins to most of its 
feathers. Its flight is more wavering and erratic than the 
dunlin’s, and its note is more closely related to that of the 
curlew-sandpiper. 
Curlew-Sandpiper (7. subarquata (Giildenstadt) )—A regular 
autumn visitor usually in small numbers. With us it has 
probably been observed more often inland than on the coast, 
chiefly I believe because it is easier to patrol effectually the 
margins of inland waters than a vast expanse of sea-shore. It 
occurs nearly every autumn at Balgray Dam, where about 
twenty birds have been seen in one flock. On the ground this 
species and the dunlin may quite easily be confused in their 
autumn plumages, but the curlew-sandpiper seems to stand 
higher than the dunlin and to have a greater angle in its legs 
when probing the mud for food. It is decidedly the shier 
bird and on the least alarm flies off with a strong flight. 
