THE DUNLIN 263 
were the species and individuals of these birds which then flocked 
to the beach and salt-marshes, I have no doubt, in my own mind, 
that they were all outnumbered by Dunlins alone. Of nearly 
every flock that I saw feeding on the wet sand or mud, fully half 
were Dunlins; many flocks were composed of these birds alone ; 
while of those which were constantly flying by, without alighting, 
the proportion of Dunlins to all other birds was, at least, three 
to one. Added to which, while the parties of other birds were 
susceptible of being approximately counted, the individuals which 
composed a flock of Dunlins were often innumerable. 
At one time, we saw in the distance, several miles off, a light 
cloud, as of smoke from a factory chimney: it moved rapidly, 
suddenly disappeared, and as suddenly again became visible. This 
was an enormous flock of Dunlins, consisting of many thousands 
at least. They did not come very near us; but smaller flocks 
which flew about in our immediate vicinity presented a similar 
appearance. As the upper surface of their bodies was turned 
towards us, they were of a dark hue; suddenly they wheeled in 
their flight as if the swarm was steered by a single will, when they 
disappeared ; but instantaneously revealed themselves again flying 
in a different direction, and reflected glittering snowy white. 
Dunlins, while feeding, show a devoted attention to their occupa- 
tion, which is not often to be observed in land birds. They run 
rapidly, looking intently on the ground, now stopping to pick up 
some scrap of animal matter which lies on the surface of the sand, 
now boring for living prey where they detect indications of such 
prey lying hid. Occasionally an individual bird appears to suffer 
from lameness, and halts in its progress as if its legs were gouty. 
Frequently they chase a receding wave for the sake of recovering 
a prize which has been swept from the beach: never venturing 
to swim, but showing no fear of wetting either feet or feathers. 
While engaged in these various ways, they often keep up a short 
conversational twitter, in a tone, however, so low that it can only 
be heard at a very short distance. While flying, they frequently 
utter a much louder piping note, which can readily be distinguished 
from the call of the other seaside birds. I observed that a small 
detached flock, when disturbed, generally flew off to a great dis- 
ance; but if other birds were feeding in the neighbourhood, they 
more frequently alighted near them, as if assured by their presence 
that no danger was to be apprehended. 
Dunlins have bred in Cornwall and Devon; but in many parts 
of Scotland, in the Hebrides and Orkneys ‘ they frequent the haunts 
selected by the Golden Plovers, with which they are so frequently 
seen in company, that they have popularly obtained the name of 
Plovers’ Pages. Sometimes before the middle of April, but always 
before that of May, they are seen’dispersed over the moors in pairs 
like the birds just named, which, at this season, they greatly re- 
