50 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



and various parts of Asia, Africa, and the Indian 

 Ocean. In Great Britain it is more or less common to 

 every portion of our coasts, especially those which are 

 of a low flat character, with reaches of sand or mud. In 

 the spring the Dunlin advances to the more northerly 

 parts of the country, and journeys southward in the 

 autumn ; and whilst performing these journeys it is said 

 that the young birds and the adults nearly always proceed 

 in separate flocks. The birds, if travelling for any con- 

 siderable distance, fly in a straight line very close together, 

 and at some height in the air ; at other times they keep 

 very close to the ground or water. The Dunlin feeds upon 

 aquatic insects, worms, and the smaller sized Crustacea, 

 and it is interesting to watch a flock of these active birds 

 on some low sandy flat, running to and fro in search of 

 food. Their movements are rapid and continuous, and they 

 appear to be perpetually on the move, now running into 

 the shallow part of a receding wave, now stopping to probe 

 the sand with their bills, and ever and anon taking a short 

 flight to a more productive spot. The entire flock rises 

 simultaneously when disturbed, but does not usually fly to 

 any considerable distance. 



The breeding season of the Dunlin commences about 

 May, and at this time the birds forsake the coasts and seek 

 the moors and heaths, where they may be so commonly seen 

 with the Golden Plover, that the local name of " Plover's ' 

 Page " has no doubt been given to them from this frequent 

 association. 



A very slight hollow or inequality in the ground, with 

 a few pieces of dried grass or heath, is considered sufficient 

 for a nest, and the number of eggs deposited is usually four. 

 These are of a greenish white ground, with spots and 



