THE DUNLIN 203 



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, wliich, at this season, they greatly re- 



