462 SANDPIPERS AND RELATED SPECIES 



Mr. Jackson syllables this note " wote-wote-wote" He further observes 

 that, when descending, the bird's progress through the air is slackened 

 while the bleating continues, but as soon as this ceases and the wing- 

 beating is resumed the speed quickens again. 1 The call-note of the 

 species has been described as a clear whistle, "trui" or "pe pe pe," 2 

 and also a plaintive prolonged single note, "queeze" or "wheeze." 3 



Although the male assists in incubation, to what extent it does so 

 is not certain. Dr. P. H. Bahr concealed near a nest for the purpose 

 of photographing the birds observed that the male always accom- 

 panied the female to within a few yards of the nest, and then mounted 

 guard on a favourite knoll. Once both birds seemed desirous of 

 incubating : the male pushed the female from the nest and took her 

 place. 4 Mr. Yan Someren, watching at a nest whilst hatching was in 

 progress, observed that while the female brooded over two newly 

 hatched chicks in the nest, the male did the same to two which were 

 hiding a short distance away. 5 Incubation lasts about three weeks ; 

 eggs hatched in an incubator took 22 days, and a clutch incubated 

 naturally by the birds hatched out on the 21st day from the discovery 

 of the nest with four eggs. 6 During the breeding season the dunlin is 

 tame and confiding. Both parents are most assiduous in tending and 

 guarding their brood, and have been observed to use the " injury 

 feigning" device. 



In August flocking commences and the birds resort to the coasts, 

 and being now reinforced by the returning birds from northern breeding- 

 places, flocks may sometimes be seen on suitable shores approaching 

 in size the immense gatherings characteristic of the winter months. 

 Of the winter habits of the dunlin much might be written if space 

 allowed. Its very commonness must commend it to all but those who 

 care for nothing but rarity in a bird. On almost any stretch of sandy 

 shore, even opposite large towns, they may be seen in small parties 



1 Zoologist, 1906, p. 22. 



2 Yarrell, British Birds, iii. 383 ; Dresser, Birds of Europe, vii. p. 27. 



3 Patten, Aquatic Birds, p. 307. 4 Annals of Scottish Natural History, 1908, p. 24. 

 6 Country Life, Sept. 24, 1910. W. Evans, Ibis, 1891. 



