DUNLIN. 141 
DUNLIN. 
TRINGA aLpina, Linn. 
Pl. XXL, fig. 1. 
Geogr. distr.—Northern and Central Europe generally; eastward 
in Asia as far as China and Japan; America: in the winter it occurs 
in India, N. Africa, and southern N. America: in Great Britain it 
breeds in some parts of England, in Scotland and the Scotch islands. 
Food.—Insects, Crustacea, Mollusca, and marine worms. 
Nest.—A depression in the ground lined with fibrous roots, a little 
dry grass, or fragments of heath. 
Position of nest.—Usually near the sea, amongst short grass or 
moss on moors or in open swampy flats. 
Number of eggs.—4. 
Time of nidrfication.—_V-V1; June. 
Hewitson says that, ‘the eggs of the Dunlin are usually 
placed very snugly either amongst heath or under a tuft of 
long dry grass, and are then difficult to find.” ‘‘ The 
Dunlin can scarcely be said to make a nest, for the most 
part merely rounding into form the grass or moss amongst 
which it is about to lay its eygs. Sometimes pieces of 
heath and a little dry grass are added, but this is not 
often.” He adds, ‘“‘I once found the nest of this species 
upon one of the unfrequented moors of Shetland, and not 
then well knowing the eggs, I left them till I could return 
with my gun to secure one of the birds. I did return a few 
hours afterwards, but the eggs were gone; and, though I 
have no evidence to prove it, 1 have myself no doubt 
that the birds had removed them to a place of safety.”— 
(ll. Eggs Brit. Birds, vol. i., pp. 318, 314). 
In England, during the breeding season, this bird is both 
rare and local, but a few pairs probably remain to nest in 
Cornwall, Devon, Cheshire, perhaps Lincolnshire, York- 
shire, and Lancashire. In Cumberland it is more nu- 
merous, a8 also in various counties of Scotland, such as 
Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, the western counties, and the 
Scotch islands, being by no means rare in the Orkneys and 
Shetlands. In Ireland, though many localities appear 
suitable, a comparatively small number appear to breed. 
The nest, being usually concealed under a tuft of grass, 
is by no means easy to find unless the bird is flushed 
from it. 
