DUNLIN. 87 



this species became known to Montagu previous to the 

 publication of the Supplement to his Ornithological Dj,c- 

 tionary, and the subject has received further illustration 

 from M. Temminck and Mr. Selby. To avoid the per- 

 plexity which had attended the double nomenclature of 

 Tringa alpina and Tringa cinclus for one species, M. 

 Meyer, an Ornithologist of Germany, proposed to call it 

 Tringa variabilis, from the great difference observed in its 

 plumage at different seasons of the year, and this name 

 appears likely to gain almost universal adoption. 



This species, known all round our coast by some one or 

 more of the following names : viz., Dunlin, Purre, (Sir 

 Thomas Browne writes it, Chur,) Stint, Ox-bird, Sea 

 Snipe, &c., is the most common as well as the most 

 numerous of all the Sandpipers frequenting our shores, 

 and may be seen there throughout the year, except for 

 a short time at their breeding-season ; nor is it very often 

 seen inland at any other period. During autumn, particu- 

 larly when the parent birds return to their marine localities 

 and are joined by their broods of the year, immense flocks 

 of these Dunlins may be seen busily employed close to the 

 edge of the sea, searching and probing for the minute 

 animals upon which they feed. They frequent sandy flats 

 and bars that project into the sea ; they are observed to be 

 incessantly upon the move, shifting their ground perpetu- 

 ally, running nimbly along, or taking short flights from 

 place to place, frequently wading to follow the aquatic in- 

 sects, worms, mollusca, and the smaller thin-skinned crus- 

 tacea which are put in motion by every receding wave. If 

 disturbed, the whole flock take wing together, and wheel- 

 ing along in half circles near the edge or the surface of the 

 water, each bird exhibits alternately a dark or light appear- 

 ance to the observer, as the upper or under side of its body 

 happens to be turned towards him. 



