300 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



to refer as briefly as possible to each individual 

 bird, giving merely its measurement, localities in 

 which it is most frequent, and any peculiarities 

 which I consider worthy of mention as being likely 

 to aid identification. 



The dunlin is one of the most common of our 

 smaller shore-birds, and is to be met with nearly 

 everywhere along the coast, on tidal rivers, etc. 



and frequently in great numbers. Its length is 

 eight inches. Its change of plumage is so re- 

 markable, that formerly two different varieties were 

 supposed to exist i.e., the dunlin and the purre. 

 In summer the plumage is reddish-brown above, 

 marked with black, the under parts being black. 

 In winter the upper parts are of an ash-gray hue, 

 and the under parts white. During the summer 



viz., May, June, and July the dunlin leaves 

 the coast, and betakes itself to the high moor- 

 lands to breed, more especially in the more Northern 

 counties. It is an exceedingly sprightly and pretty 

 little bird, and when in winter plumage, and in 

 flocks, the white under parts, glistening in the 

 sunlight, present a peculiarly pleasing effect, more 

 especially when seen flying across the blue water 

 of some small shore-bay. It is also known as the 

 ox-bird, a name also given to the sanderling. In 

 summer plumage the lower part of the breast is 

 black. 



The redshank, a larger bird than the dunlin, 

 and measuring between ten and eleven inches in 

 length, is very similar to the dunlin as regards the 



