382 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
edge within three 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. 
