70 TRINGIN^E. TRINGA. 



Jen. Brit. Vert. Anim. 210. Tringa pectoralis, Pectoral 

 Sandpiper, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, iv. 



181. TRINGA CINCLUS. DUNLIN SANDPIPER. 



Bill a fourth longer than the head, slightly decurved at the 

 end ; tail with the middle feathers considerably longer ; tar- 

 sus an inch long ; hill black, feet very dark olive. In winter, 

 the plumage brownish-grey above, each feather with a dusky 

 streak ; the sides and fore part of the neck, with a small por- 

 tion of the breast, paler, and similarly streaked ; the throat, 

 breast, and abdomen, white ; tail-coverts dusky ; tail ash- 

 grey, the inner webs of the middle feathers black. In sum- 

 mer, the upper parts yellowish-red, spotted with brownish- 

 black ; the sides of the head, neck, and body, and the fore 

 part of the neck, greyish- white, tinged with red, and distinctly 

 spotted with dusky ; a large patch of black on the breast. 

 Young with the upper parts variegated with black and light 

 red ; the fore neck, breast, and part of the sides spotted with 

 black ; the throat, middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower 

 tail-coverts, white. 



Male, 7 A, 14A, 4 A, 1 T 3 ^ 1, tf, A- Female, 8, 14ft. 

 In the end of August and beginning of September, the 

 Dunlins appear on our shores in flocks, disperse themselves 

 from one extremity of the island to the other, and continue 

 until the end of spring, when they separate, and betake them- 

 selves to the interior, and especially to that of the northern 

 parts of Scotland and its large islands. The nest is a hollow, 

 in which are placed some bits of dry grass or heath, and the 

 eggs, always four, are very large, pyriform, an inch and four 

 or five twelfths in length, eleven-twelfths in breadth, light 

 greyish-green, yellowish or brownish, spotted and patched 

 with umber-brown and light purplish-grey. The young, co- 

 vered with stiffish down, variegated with yellowish-grey and 

 dark brown, presently leave the nest. When they are fledged, 

 both they and their parents betake themselves to the sea- 

 coast. The food of this species consists of worms, small tes- 

 tacea, Crustacea, insects, and larvae. It runs with rapidity, 

 probes the sand and mud with a light and quick motion, has 

 a rapid flight, and in autumn, becoming fat, is considered de- 

 licate food. It is with us the most common species of its 

 genus. 



Purre. Stint. Sea-Snipe. Plover's Page. Sea Lark. 

 Ox-bird. Ox-eye. 



