230 PURRE OR DUNLIN. 



perse, for the most part inland, to various moorland 

 districts, a few remaining in suitable localities near 

 the shore, such as extensive mosses or salt marshes, 

 and a considerable proportion also migrate entirely 

 to a distant or new locality. In the north of Scot- 

 land, where the country is intersected with arms of 

 the sea, or studded thickly with large lochs, the 

 shores and banks of which afford favourite breeding 

 spots, we find them thickly frequented, a few pairs 

 taking up a station at almost every hundred yards, 

 where they reside as a constant haunt, and are so 

 little molested, and consequently so tame, that when 

 fishing, we have thrown our flies over, and caught 

 the old birds rising on the shingle before us. The 

 nest is placed under or by the side of some tuft or 

 bush of grass or herbage, often ingeniously concealed, 

 but exhibiting little workmanship, except a little 

 hollowing and pressing of the dried grass to the 

 bottom. 



In Europe its distribution, from all authorities, 

 seems as wide and general as it is in Britain, 

 abounding and breeding far to the north ; its range 

 is also very equal over North America, reaching 

 from Mexico to the fur countries. By Temminck, 

 Japan and Timor are given as localities, where, 

 however, it would seem to be a winter visitant only. 

 From the difference in its plumage during summer 

 and winter, very great confusion in the nomencla- 

 ture existed, and it has been described in these states 

 as distinct species. There is also great disparity in 

 size, as we shall see in the dimensions to be given. 



