

THE BITNLfN. 35 



blotches of differently shaded brown, and about one inch 

 and a quarter in length, which is certainly a very large 

 size in proportion to the dimensions of the bird. If ap- 

 proached too closely the old birds adopt various ruses to 

 attract attention from their nest, closely resembling the 

 Plovers in this particular characteristic. 



The note may be likened to the syllable, " kwee, kwee/' 

 and this ciy is most commonly heard when the birds are 

 first taking to flight ; they also utter a somewhat similar 

 note when running along the ground, but it is far weaker 

 and more feeble in volume. 



In its summer plumage the Dunlin has the beak black ; 

 irides, brown ; top of the head a mixed black and brown ; 

 neck greyish white, with black streaks ; wings greyish 

 black, with secondaries edged with white; rump and tail 

 coverts black and ash colour; tail, dark brown and ash 

 grey; chin, white; neck in front, greyish white with black 

 streaks ; breast, mottled black and white ; vent, thighs, and 

 under tail coverts, white ; legs, toes, and claws, black. 

 The females somewhat resemble the males, but are lighter 

 in colour, and the markings are not quite so distinct. In 

 winter, the head, neck, back, and wings are nearly a 

 uniform ash grey ; there are dusky streaks on the front of 

 the neck, and the breast and under parts are white ; the 

 wings do not appear to be subject to any noticeable vari- 

 ation. 



In the autumn the sexes are alike in plumage, and 

 are very pretty. The young birds have soon after hatch- 

 ing all the upper surface of the body covered with a 

 pretty, soft, ash-coloured brown down, with a black stripe 

 down from the head through the back ; the lower parts 

 are greyish white, and the legs green. Like the rest 



