AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 69 



all allude to the alternate gleams of pure white and 

 dark colour as the birds present their lower or upper 

 surface to the spectator. I have more than once 

 witnessed some very interesting chases of Dunlins by 

 one or two Merlins ; indeed, on some parts of the 

 coast of England and Wales the Dunlin seems to be 

 the principal " quarry " of this little Falcon. 



This species is reported as well known not only 

 throughout Europe, but also in almost all parts of 

 the Old World except the extreme south, and it 

 has a wide range on both sides of the continent of 

 N. America. 



We found very large numbers in May on the 

 great marshes of the lower Guadalquivir, and it was 

 also very abundant at that season on the muds in the 

 harbour of Santander. Mr. Abel Chapman had the 

 good fortune in the former of these localities to find 

 a nest containing four eggs which he, and other 

 experts in ornithology, attribute to this species. 

 This is the only instance of the Dunlin's breeding in 

 Spain that has come to my knowledge. 



The ordinary note of the Dunlin is a clear some- 

 what shrill piping whistle. I have been told by a 

 Highland gamekeeper that in the summer these little 

 birds *' sing " on the wing like Larks, and I find it 

 stated in Yarrell that in the pairing-season they soar 

 to a moderate height, and utter a prolonged and 

 somewhat monotonous " dwee." 



