-n-z ' 



Sv^^^^' /^ 



PIGMY CURLEW.— rniism snbarqudta. 

 KNOT. — Tringa canutits. 



TBMMINCK'S STIT\T.—Tringa Temmincldi. 

 DUXLIN. — Trinj^ff. cinchis. 



are sure to be eitlier engaged in running about after food or flying from one feeding-place 

 to another. While flying they present rather a curious aspect, as they seem to change 

 from white to black alternately, according to the point of view in which they are seen ; 

 their dark backs and white under surfaces contrasting boldly with each other. 



The nest of the Dunlin is placed rather inland, and is mostly so well concealed by the 

 heather and long grass among which it is situated, that it is not discovered without some 

 difficulty. The mother-bird sits very closely, and towards the latter end of incubation will 

 permit herself to be taken by hand rather than relinquish her sacred charge. During tlie 

 first period of incubation, however, she will slip quietly away from her nest, run to some 

 distance under cover of the herbage, and then begin a series of tricks, which are intended 

 to allure the intru<ier from her nest. The full number of eggs is four, and their colour is 

 greenish white covered with numerous spots and splashes of dark rusty brown. 



The peculiar flight of the Dunlin is well described by Mr. Thompson in his diary, 

 from which the following extract is condensed. "When immense flocks divide, fly right 

 and lelt and shoot into single strings, they strike upon the eye while the sun shines upon 

 them and the dark banks of the bay serve as background, like silver lines, occasionally 

 of great length. A flock flying for a great distance just above the margin of the flowin" 

 tide has strongly resembled, from their white plumage being displayed, a single wave 

 sweeping rapidly onwards. 



I was particularly attracted by the beauty of a large flock, one moToent shooting out 

 in the form of a cornucopia, the next gathered into a circle ; one instant almost dazzling 

 by their extreme brightness, the next dark in hue, and again on the turn of the wino- 



