342 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



Its winter dress is grey above and white below, with a 

 whitish bar across the extended wing. 



In spring the crown of the head is rufous, streaked with 

 black. Mantle black, with broad rufous margins ; the neck and 

 throat white, streaked with black ; breast black ; belly white. 

 The sexes are alike in coloration, the female being usually 

 slightly the larger. Length from 6 to 7 ins. ; bill i in. ; 

 wing 4*5 in. This species, however, varies greatly in size. 

 Some naturalists define two, or even three, races of Dunlin. 



The young in autumn have the back nearly black, the 

 feathers having narrow buflf and rufous margins ; the under 

 parts are white, buff across the breast, and thickly spotted, 

 especially on the lower breast, with black. The amount of 

 spotting, however, as well as the colour of the breast, varies 

 greatly in individuals. 



KNOT 



Tringa canutus {Linnceus) 



The Knot is a common migrant to our shores. In winter 

 it often flocks in immense numbers on our mud-flats. It is 

 supposed to breed in all suitable places in the North Polar 

 Basin. The adult in summer has the mantle variegated with 

 black, chestnut, and white. The throat, fore-neck, and breast 

 are chestnut. In winter the under parts are white, the mantle 

 ashy grey. Immatures are like adults in winter, but show 

 conspicuous light marginal markings on the feathers of the 

 back. Length 9 in. 



REDSHANK 



Totanus calidris {Linncsus) 



The Redshank is a common resident in suitable localities 

 throughout our islands. It also inhabits the Palsearctic region, 

 but wends its way to Africa to pass the winter. 



In winter it occurs abundantly round all our coasts, and 



