2 SCOLOPACID^. 



marshes of the Dee in Cheshire, more freely in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and in 

 some numbers on the mosses on both sides of the Solway ; while on the east side 

 its eggs have been obtained in Lincolnshire, and a few pairs are scattered over 

 the moors further north, up to the Cheviots. In Scotland, where suitable 

 situations are abundant, the bird is generally distributed on the mainland — 

 though local in Sutherland, and is rather plentiful on many of the islands as far 

 as the Shetlands. As regards Ireland, it is only known to nest — in small 

 numbers — in the north-west, but in autumn and winter it frequents the coasts 

 in thousands." 



Macgillivray writes * : — " The Dunlins in fact breed in great numbers on the 

 heaths of many parts of Scotland, and its larger islands, Avhere they may be found 

 scattered in the haunts selected by the Golden Plovers, with which they are so 

 frequently seen in company that they have popularly obtained the name of 

 Plover's Pages. Sometimes about 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 resemble in manners. From this period until 

 the end of August none are to be found along the shores of the sea, instead of 

 searching which, they now seek for insects and worms, in the shallow pools, soft 

 ground, and by the edges of lakes and marshes. The male frequently flies up to 

 a person intruding upon his haunts, and sometimes endeavours to entice him 

 away by feigning lameness. 



" The nest, which is composed of some bits of withered grass or sedge, and 

 small twigs of heath, is placed in a slight hollow, generally on a bare spot, and 

 usually in a dry place like that selected by the Golden Plover. The eggs, 

 always four, are ovato-pyriform, an inch and four- or five-twelfths in length, 

 eleven-twelfths or a little more in breadth, and have a light greyish-green, or 

 sometimes greenish-yellow, or brownish ground, irregularly marked all over with 

 spots and patches of umber-brown and light purplish-grey, more numerous 

 toward the larger end, where they are often confluent. The female sits very 

 assiduously, often allowing a person to come quite close to her before removing, 

 which she does in a fluttering and cowering manner. 



" The young, which are covered with close stifiish down, are variegated with 

 yellowish-grey and dark brown, with the bill dusky, and the feet yellowish-brown. 

 Like those of the Golden Plover and Lapwing, they leave the nest immediately 

 after exclusion from the egg, run about, and when alarmed, conceal themselves by 

 sitting close to the ground, and remaining motionless. If at this period a person 



* 'History of British Birds, Indigenous and Migratory,' vol. iv. pp. 208, 209. 



