148 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



breeding birds repair in any numbers to Rockliffe 

 marsh for nesting purposes. 



Upon the salt marshes, the nest is chiefly em- 

 bedded in a tussock of long coarse grass, the blades 

 of which are often drawn carefully over the nest ; 

 but, on Rocklifle marsh, many nests are placed 

 among the blushing sea-pinks which cover the 

 northern jDortion of the ground. At first, the nest 

 is a mere depression in the soil, with little if any 

 lining ; but a lining of fine stems is carefully added 

 as laying proceeds. 



Upon the coastline, the eggs are chiefly laid 

 early in May ; but on the east fells incubation is 

 rather later, and we have found fresh eggs as late 

 as the middle of June. 



Dunlins exhibit considerable anxiety about their 

 nest, if incubation be advanced ; and it is interesting 

 to watch the little birds flying round an intruder, 

 uttering a gentle trill, or alighting on the ground 

 to run nimbly for a few paces. Some birds sit very 

 close indeed, and may be captured on the nest. 

 The last Dunlin's nest which we found during the 

 summer of 1885, was on Wedholme flow, June 6th. 

 We were searching for the eggs of a pair of Great 

 Black-backed Gulls, which were sailing magnificently 

 overhead, uttering measured imprecations, when the 

 sharp cry of the startled Dunlin arose, and we saw 

 the bird going away. There, sure enough, on a 

 little dry knoll of heather, surrounded on all sides 

 by boggy ground, was a Dunlin's nest, lined with 

 a few straws, and containing four rich-coloured eggs, 

 all much incubated. 



