DUNLIN. 3 



approaches their retreat, the male especially, but frequently the female also, flies 

 up to meet the intruder, and uses the same artifices for deceiving him as many 

 other birds of this family. After they are able to shift for themselves, the young 

 remain several weeks on the moors with their parents, both collecting into small 

 flocks, which are often intermingled with those of the Golden Plover, and often 

 in the evenings uniting into larger," 



The late Dr. Saxby describes the breeding-habits of this species as 

 follows * : — " The breeding haunts of the Dunlin are precisely similar to those of 

 the common Snipe; the same situations are also, chosen for the nest, and, of 

 course with the exception of their inferior size, both nests and eggs closely 

 resemble those of that bird. It does not, however, breed so late, the last eggs 

 usually being seen about the beginning of July, and the earliest in the middle of 

 May. Sometimes, but not often, the nest is found upon the tops of the highest 

 hills ; those only a few hundred feet above the sea-level are preferred. The 

 vicinity of water in some form seems to be necessary ; and although it sometimes 

 happens that there is none within perhaps a quarter of a mile of the nest, the 

 bed of a recently dried up pool or stream will always be found near. When a 

 Dunlin is nearly hatching and is suddenly disturbed, she flies off" the nest, and 

 alighting almost immediately, runs trailing the wings, and uttering a peculiar 

 shrill cry. When the danger appears to be over, she returns by running until 

 within about twenty yards of the nest, and then, after pausing awhile, and looking 

 round upon all sides, flies the remaining distance. In the breeding season 

 these birds have a singular habit of hovering at a considerable height — perhaps 

 ten or fifteen feet — above the ground, at the same time quivering the wings and 

 uttering a sort of shrill but gentle warbling sound." 



Messrs. Macpherson and Duckworth give the following description of the 

 breeding habits of the Dunlin on Rockliffe Marsh, Cumberland f : — " The Dunlin 

 is a later breeder than the Redshank, and though Mr. C. Murray Adamson 

 once found four young Dunlins on Burgh marsh, on May 20th, it is not until the 

 beginning of May that the breeding birds repair in any numbers to Rockliffe 

 marsh for nesting purposes. 



" Upon the salt marshes, the nest is chiefly embedded in a tussock of long 

 coarse grass, the blades of which are often drawn carefully over the nest ; but, on 

 Rockliff'e marsh, many nests are placed among the blushing sea-pinks which 

 cover the northern portion of the ground. At flrst, the nest is a mere depression 



* ' Birds of Shetland,' p. 210. 



t ' Birds of Cumberland,' pp. 147-149. 



