57° DUNLIN. 



brighter bird to which Brehm applied the name T. schinzi. North 

 American individuals are characterized, as a rule, by their larger 

 size, longer bills, and more rufous summer-plumage, but in sketch- 

 ing the geographical distribution I shall consider these as merely 

 forms of one species. With this proviso it may be said that the 

 Dunlin breeds in the Fseroes and also in Iceland, while it is 

 widely diffused in Scandinavia and on the tundras of Russia, its 

 northern range extending to Novaya Zemlya. It also nests in 

 Denmark and along the Baltic coast of Northern Germany ; accord- 

 ing to Prof. Giglioli it undoubtedly breeds in the marshes of 

 Venetia in Northern Italy; and Mr. Abel Chapman shot a bird from 

 its eggs in the extreme south of Spain. During the colder months 

 of the year the Dunlin is met with on all the sea-shores and many of 

 the inland waters of Europe, as well as in the Canaries and Northern 

 Africa ; its migrations reaching down the east side of that continent 

 as far as Zanzibar. In summer it inhabits the Arctic portions of 

 Siberia in Asia, and it winters in China and many districts of the 

 Indian region. In America it nests in the north, descending on the 

 Pacific littoral to California and on the Atlantic to the West Indies ; 

 it is also found in Greenland. 



Early in May on the salt-marshes, though somewhat later on the 

 fells, the Dunlin forms its slight nest, often in a tussock of long 

 coarse grass, or among sea-pinks, short heather &c. ; the eggs, 4 in 

 number, are greenish-white, blotched and spotted with two shades 

 of reddish-brown : average measurements i'35 by "95 in. During 

 the pairing-season the birds soar to a moderate height, uttering a 

 somewhat prolonged dtuec ; but in autumn, when in flocks, a distinct 

 purrc may be heard, from which this species derives one of its local 

 names; it is also called 'Ox-bird' and 'Sea-snipe.' The food 

 consists of worms, small crustaceans, and marine insects. 



The adult in spring (represented in the foreground) has the crown 

 of the head rufous, streaked with black ; mantle chestnut, variegated 

 with black ; rest of the upper plumage chiefly ash-grey ; throat and 

 upper breast greyish-white with dark stripes ; lower breast black ; 

 belly white. As a rule the females are larger and have longer bills 

 than the males. Average length 8 in. ; wing 4-55 in. In the young 

 the feathers of the head and back have large black centres and 

 rufous margins, the chin is white, and the upper breast is tawny-buff 

 with dark streaks which enlarge to spots on the lower breast and 

 flanks ; belly nearly white. In winter the adults are chiefly ash- 

 colour above, with a distinct white alar bar, and their under parts 

 are white with a mottled greyish band on the lower neck. 



