THE PARADISE OF THE CHARADRHDiE. 



57 



did not add a new species of Charadriine bird to my list until we reached the tundra beyond 

 the limit of forest-growth. 



Some species of Charadriine birds reach their breeding-grounds in the Arctic Regions 

 without making a journey across country ; their hereditary attachment to the sea-shore is so Coast 

 great that even on migration they prefer to follow the coast. Neither in East Russia nor in mi s rants - 

 Central Siberia did we see anything either of the Dunlin {Tringa alpina) or the Little Stint 

 (Tringa minuta) until we reached their breeding-grounds ; and the Grey Plover {Charadrius 

 lidveticus) evidently belongs to the same class. Having arrived at their breeding-grounds, 

 however, all these species retire inland to breed, and all of them arrive in breeding-dress — 

 the mud-colour and white, which characterize their plumage as they feed, almost invisible Breeding- 

 to the prying eyes of enemies, on the mud-flats at low tide, being exchanged for a more or d.. ress P roteCj 



Geese moult- 

 ing as they 

 migrate. 



less gay livery, in which golden yellow, or the richest chestnut-red, or even a velvety black, 

 harmonizes equally with the deep colours of their summer home. On the other hand, the 

 Snipes and the Lapwings, that frequent the marshes and swamps both in their summer 

 and winter homes, scarcely differ in the colour of their plumage with the seasons. 



Summer in the Arctic Regions is so short that it is entirely devoted to breeding, and 

 in most species to moulting. The Dunlin and the Red-necked Phalarope moult their quills 

 whilst the young are still in down. The Common Sandpiper, on the other hand, appears 

 to find the summer too short for both operations : in spring he moults before he migrates, 

 as I have had ample opportunities of proving in South Africa ; in autumn he migrates 

 before he moults, as any one may prove by shooting examples before they leave our 

 shores. 



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