114 BRITISH SHA V BIRDS: 
pretty along the salt-marshes and mud-flats than 
a large flock of Dunlins, in the act of performing 
those graceful aerial movements so characteristic 
of this little bird during its winter sojourn upon the 
coast. The whole flock, as with a single impulse, 
will spread out like a net, close up again, 
apparently vanish, appear black, or like a flash of 
silver, just as the birds turn and expose their dark 
or white plumage to the light. Sometimes the 
flock will head straight away down the coast, 
passing the observer with a rush and whirr of 
wings, and a chorus of purring cries; at other 
times a large flock will rise ex masse from the 
muds, pass out to sea a little way, turn, and go 
some distance along the shore, come back again, 
repeating the movement time after time, ever and 
anon appearing as though about to alight, dipping 
and rising with marvellous regularity. No doubt 
these movements will recall to the observer the 
gyrations of the autumn flocks of Starlings, for 
there is much in common between the _ two. 
During its sojourn upon the coast the Dunlin 
feeds upon crustaceans, sand-worms, molluscs, and 
other small marine organisms; but in summer 
insects, grubs, worms, and ground-fruits are eaten. 
The usual note of the Dunlin is harsh, and 
resembles the word purrv—hence one of the bird’s 
trivial names; during the breeding season it is a 
long drawn peezh. In the pairing season, when the 
male indulges in certain aerial gambols, he utters a 
—e~ 
