Dunlins 269 



Purre, or Churr as it is sometimes written, is equally 

 expressive of the Dunlin's spring " song," or of its most 

 common call-note at all seasons. On the Welsh coast its 

 most common name is Pibydd rhuddgoch^ but it is not very 

 common, and hardly noticed inland. I scarcely met with a 

 single person on the hills who knew it, and only myself 

 came across it nesting, elsewhere, in the neighbourhood 

 of some little tarns near Llyn y Figen, to the west of 

 Aran Mawddwy ; on the boggy ground near Cwmtylo ; 

 and on the wide stretch of moor between Blaen Lliw and 

 Trawsfynydd ; but at none of these stations was there more 

 than a pair or two. Long ago it used to breed on the 

 marshes at the mouth of the Dyfi, and probably still does 

 so, as I saw some birds, in summer dress, on the shore 

 there, at the end of June. 



So long ago as 1879, I became convinced that the Dunlin 

 carries its young on the wing, as Woodcock are well known 

 to do, and as I have already recorded my belief that the 

 Sandpiper does, and have several times, since, had strong 

 circumstantial evidence that such is the case, without, 

 however, being able to prove it by actually witnessing 

 the feat. I have found very young birds where I felt 

 sure they had not been hatched, nor had reached by their 

 own unaided efforts ; and have also seen old ones, very 

 tame and anxious, about one particular spot, in the evening, 

 while, early next morning, they had transferred their cares 

 to quite another part of the moor. It is disappointing to 

 be still unable to speak more definitely upon so interesting 

 a subject, after the lapse of so many years ; but with 

 opportunities recurring ever less frequently, as hills grow 

 steeper, and nesting stations become more and more 

 difficult of access, I fear it may never now fall to my 

 lot to settle the question beyond dispute, and I therefore 

 commend it to the notice of younger men, as one well 

 worthy of their close attention, and one that is, moreover, 

 not at all unlikely to repay it. 



So much has already been written by others, concerning 

 the variation in size, and plumage, of the Dunlin, as well as 

 upon its general habits, that further comment may seem 



