78 BRITISH BIRDS. 



the tail dusky : the rest ash : legs, thighs, and 

 toes black, inclining to green. 



The Dunlin, with others of the same genus, 

 appears in great numbers on the sea-shores, in 

 various parts of Great Britain, during the winter 

 season : they run nimbly near the edges of the 

 flowing and retiring waves, and are almost per- 

 petually wagging their tails, whilst they are at 

 the same time busily employed in picking up their 

 food, which consists chiefly of small worms and 

 marine insects. On taking flight, they give a 

 kind of scream, and skim along near the surface of 

 the water with great rapidity, as well as with 

 great regularity; they do not fly directly forward, 

 but perform their evolutions in large semi-circles, 

 alternately in their sweep approaching the shore 

 and the sea, and the curvature of their course is 

 pointed out by the flocks appearing suddenly and 

 alternately in a dark or in a snowy white colour, 

 as their backs or their bellies are turned to or 

 from the spectator.* 



Our figure represents the bird in a changing 

 state of plumage, from young, to that of winter; 

 the ferruginous feathers belong to the young bird, 

 and the ash-coloured to the winter plumage. 



* It is somewhat remarkable that birds of different species, such 

 as the Ring Dotterel, Sanderling, &c., which associate with the 

 Dunlin, &c., should understand the signal, which from their wheel- 

 ing about altogether, with such promptitude and good order, it 

 would appear is given to the whole flock. 



