Races of Birds 271 



upper part of the body, the variation amongst Dunlins is 

 still greater, scarcely any two individuals exactly resembling 

 one another, at any season, unless it be when the complete 

 winter dress has been assumed. That state is, however, 

 comparatively scarce amongst the flocks which frequent 

 our shores. The majority of these consist, no doubt, of 

 young birds ; but still there are always plenty of adults, and 

 in a large number of both young and old the moult seems 

 to be protracted from autumn right through the winter, and, 

 with only slight intermission, to be continued throughout 

 the summer also, so that a considerable proportion of the 

 birds are never in either /#// winter, or full summer plumage. 

 As late as the 6th November, I have shot individuals in 

 nearly complete summer dress, both as regards their black 

 breast, and the rusty-and-black back feathers ; and others, 

 up to the middle of May, still retaining amongst the grey 

 scapulars, etc., of winter, a few of the worn and faded feathers 

 of their previous summer's plumage. Probably the exigencies 

 of migration control the moult in autumn, and, later in the 

 year, it may be retarded by inclement weather. Birds in 

 good condition, arriving early at their winter quarters, may 

 rapidly complete the change of their feathers I have shot 

 them in complete winter plumage before the middle of 

 October, while later arrivals cannot afford to lose so many 

 feathers at once, and before the cold stops moulting altogether 

 for the time, have only put on a part of their grey coats. 

 Young birds, I am convinced, rarely, if ever, assume a real 

 winter plumage during their first season. 



Larger and smaller races no doubt exist amongst Dunlins, 

 as amongst many other birds, but they seem to mix freely 

 together at all times ; for large and small examples may be 

 shot out of the same flock, and examination will prove that 

 neither age nor sex determines the size. The relative size, 

 and downward curvature of the bill, is an equally unreliable 

 guide, in Dunlins as in other birds, but this has already been 

 particularly touched upon on page 264. It has been thought 

 that the large race of Dunlins may have the broadest, and 

 most turned-down bill, but I have had quite small specimens 

 with straight bill, of not more than the average length, yet 



