•316 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



DUNLIN SHOOTING. 



" Tlien eveiy fowler who so cozens, 



Sells you in markets strung by dozens." 



Translation frotn AristopliOMcs. 



The dunlin, oxbird, or stint {Tringa variabilis), is well known as 

 an annual visitant to our coast, appearing- in immense flig'lits, and 

 moving- tliroug'h the air with wonderful velocity; performing the 

 most graceful evolutions, when on the wing, of any gregarious birds. 

 They seem to go through regular gradations and figures, keeping in 

 a body so compact, and flying so swiftly, that their antics are as in- 

 teresting- as they are extraordinary ; on sunny days, when they 

 turn and twist in the air, the whiteness of the feathers beneath their 

 wings glitters in the sky like bright white metal, and the whole fling 

 every now and then presents the identical appearance of a beautiful 

 silver cloud. 



When the weather is mild and open they are more scattered, and 

 are seen only in small flings. It is in cold and frosty weather that 

 they perform their most beautiful and amusing evolutions. They are 

 the tamest birds on the coast when in small numbers, but are more 

 wary in large. Like other waders, they will not take wing until the 

 tide fairly washes them off" their legs. They huddle together in 

 cold weather on the last bit of mud that is not covered with water, 

 and struggle to retain possession of it, until the tide touches their 

 feathers. When in such positions, they are frequently killed in large 

 numbers by punters, who use small punt-guns ; by loading with half- 

 a-pound of No. 7 shot, more than a hundred are sometimes killed at 

 once. 



Directly the ebb tide leaves them a resting-place on the ooze, there 

 they alight and feed ; frequently in company with grey plovers ; a 

 stray bird or two of which is sometimes seen among- them when on 

 the wing, looking like the parent of the flight, from its superior 

 size. 



It is puerile sport to kill them, though afibrding excellent fun to 

 young sportsmen. They are very good eating, and are frequently 

 palmed upon the inexperienced purchaser of game as snipes, especially 

 in London, where the poulterers and game dealers call them '' sea- 



