THE DUNLIN. 323 



have been one of the most beautiful sights he ever witnessed. The 

 great body first appeared glancing in the sun; then it broke up 

 into a dozen flocks, which rose and fell in the air like molten 

 silver, or, as his companion observed, like showers of new shillings 

 a most apt image.* One of the finest effects is when the back 

 ground is so dark that the birds are only seen in silvery whiteness 

 flashing their under plumage upon us. The uncertainty as to 

 where they may next appear like that of lightning from an 

 extensive mass of thundercloud adds much to the effect." It is 

 sad to think of these fair creatures, whose silver-lined wings are 

 so agreeably pictured, being destined to a pitiless fate the moment 

 they descend to the shore. In the very next paragraph, Mr 

 Thompson states, in his usually circumstantial way, that on 16th 

 October, 1843, two hundred and sixteen were picked up at one 

 discharge, and on the 9th of December, 1845, upwards of three 

 hundred ! 



In the West of Scotland the Dunlin is found breeding in almost 

 every moorland and marshy tract where the snipe or golden plover 

 is met with. It is extremely abundant in North Uist, Benbecula, 

 and South Uist, and indeed over the whole of the Outer Hebrides. 

 It also breeds on St. Kilda and the Monach isles. On the inner 

 islands it is equally plentiful, while on many parts of the mainland it 

 is never absent. Mr Alston has found it breeding in the Upper Ward 

 of Lanarkshire, at an elevation of one thousand feet above the sea 

 level, and I have taken the bird and eggs on several occasions on 

 the Renfrewshire hills, within eight or ten miles of Glasgow, and 

 within full view of the city. 



The variations to which this species is subject appear to be 

 much greater than those occurring in any other wading bird of its 

 size. It would almost seem as if there were several races to be 

 found throughout Scotland. In some districts of the Outer Heb- 

 rides, for example, the Dunlin is smaller than that of the mainland 

 a remark which applies to the entire bird, and not to any par- 

 ticular feature. The bill is at least one-half shorter; the tarsi 

 and toes more slender and diminutive ; the dorsal plumage redder 

 and more streaked; and the black abdominal patch not so large. 

 When comparing extreme specimens from this part of Scotland 



* Ovster shells might be deemed equally apt as an illustration. We can 

 well imagine, however, that in at least some districts of Ireland, not to speak 

 of other places, showers of shillings would produce a really good effect. 



