SCOLOPACID^E. 187 



these battles/ as Selby observes, 'soon becomes bare of 

 grass, from the constant traversing of the combatants/ Not 

 only have the neck and ear plumes now attained their per- 

 fection, but the face of the male becomes covered with small 

 yellowish papillse or fleshy excrescences, instead of the short 

 feathers with which it is ordinarily clothed. During the 

 whole of May and the early part of June this scene of war- 

 fare continues with unabated energy. . . . Towards the lat- 

 ter part of June this combativeness abates, the papilla on 

 the face disappear, and shortly afterwards the fine plumes 

 are moulted off, their place being supplied by ordinary 

 feathers." 



Early in May the eggs of this species, which are four in 

 number, and which in many instances closely resemble those 

 of the Great Snipe, are laid in a rude nest of grass, placed 

 among coarse grass, rushes, or other herbage, on a hillock 

 or gentle elevation, and in some marshy situation. 



THE PURRE, OR DUNLIN. Tringa variabilis. The Dun- 

 lin is the most common of all the Tringa, and is generally 

 and abundantly distributed along the shores of our country 

 throughout their extent. In Europe its range is wide, and 

 its appearance very general, while in America it is known 

 from Mexico northwards. It feeds upon marine insects, 



