DUNLIN. 379 



from those of the Old World by their larger size and much 

 longer bill. To this Mr. Harting adds (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 115), 

 that in examples in summer plumage the American birds 

 are further characterized by the prevalence of bright rufous- 

 brown in the upper portions of the plumage, whereas in 

 Scotch and other European specimens black is the pre- 

 dominating colour ; and again, in the American bird the 

 black of the under parts is less extended. So far, however, 

 as mere size goes, many examples obtained in autumn and 

 winter in various parts of the Palaearctic region are equal 

 in size to those of America; and even in the Palsearctic 

 region there appear to be two races of Dunlin : a large and 

 northern one of duller colours, and a smaller one of some- 

 what brighter tints, which is, as a rule, the race which 

 breeds in our islands. There is, however, every gradation 

 between the two extremes. It was to small individuals of 

 the southern race that the name of Tringa schinzi was 

 originally applied by Brehm, and was subsequently trans- 

 ferred in error to Bonaparte's Sandpiper, as already shown 

 (supra, p. 372). These two races are analogous to those 

 observable in the Ringed Plover (supra, p. 259). As regards 

 the American form, the differences appear to be rather more 

 defined, but in sketching the geographical distribution of 

 the Dunlin, it seems convenient, with this proviso, to con- 

 sider that all are merely local races of the same species.* 



In autumn the immense flights which visit our eastern 

 shores consist, as Mr. Cordeaux informs the Editor, of 

 somewhat large individuals, which shift their quarters 

 southward or westward, according to the severity of the 

 weather, and which may be again observed on their return 

 northward in March and April. In May arrivals of the 

 smaller and more richly-coloured form are of tolerably 

 regular occurrence ; the latter being much tamer and less 



* The Editor has examined the very extensive series in the British Museum, 

 and about forty specimens in the collection of Mr. Harting, besides many others. 

 He finds that the above distinctions hold good in the main ; but breeding birds 

 from Repulse Bay, Melville Peninsula, are as dark on the back as many Old 

 World specimens, whilst agreeing in size with the American form. 



