27 



rather drawn in, the outer primaries being almost parallel with the body. When a large flock 

 is on the wing the entire number fly with great regularity, as if drilled ; and various evolutions 

 are performed before they settle, the entire flock now turning one way so as to show the white 

 undersurface, and now exposing nothing to the bystander's view but the dark upper parts. The 

 usual call-note is a clear whistle, like the syllable trui, sometimes softer and sometimes more 

 harsh ; and it is more frequently uttered when the bird is on the wing than when on the ground. 

 When a flock is scattered about, feeding, I have when near heard some of the individuals 

 utter a soft piping note. During the pairing-season the male performs, like most of its allies, 

 peculiar evolutions on the wing, rising in the air like a Pipit and gradually descending — its note 

 tri, tri, tri, tri, several times repeated in succession, being at first somewhat slowly and then 

 by degrees more quickly uttered. It also utters these notes when on the ground near its nest. 

 The locality chosen for the purpose of nidification is usually near the sea in some open swampy 

 place, or in places which are covered with short grass. The nest is a mere depression worked 

 in the ground, carelessly lined with a few small bents. Mr. Benzon, who has frequently taken 

 its nest in Denmark, writes to me that all he has found are " depressions in the ground about 

 65-70 millims. in diameter, and about 30 millims. in depth. The eggs, four in number, are 

 large for the size of the bird, measuring from 32 by 22 to 38 by 26 millimetres, and are placed 

 with the pointed ends towards the centre. The time when the eggs are deposited varies from 

 the 29th April to the 15th June ; it would therefore appear as if some, at least, bred twice in 

 the season ; or else the younger birds breed later in the season than the older ones ; but in places 

 where the eggs are so frequently taken it is hard to decide with any degree of certainty as to the 

 reason why eggs are found at such different times." Like those of its allies, the eggs of the 

 Dunlin are pear-shaped, and are subject to considerable variation in coloration. Some have the 

 ground-colour pale greenish grey, others dark stone-buff, and others, again, pale stone-coloured ; 

 the underlying shell-markings are pale purplish grey ; and the surface-spots, which are generally 

 distributed over the surface of the shell, are dark brown. Some have the spots collected more 

 towards the larger end ; and others are somewhat profusely and generally spotted. In size they 

 vary from 1^ by f-g- inch to l^f by f f , and l^f by 1 inch. 



Mr. Benzon informs me that he possesses a large series of eggs, which he describes as being 

 " yellowish, yellowish grey, olivaceous, sometimes greenish olive, marked with brownish or 

 brownish-grey shell-markings and brown surface-spots, these latter being more numerous at the 

 larger end. One egg is quite white ; and several are but slightly spotted, some wanting the 

 surface-spots altogether." 



When the young are able to take care of themselves they flock together ; and during passage 

 one often sees flocks composed almost entirely of young birds. It would also appear that they 

 do not breed in the next season after they are hatched, but not before the second season or third 

 year of existence. 



The specimens figured are an adult bird in full breeding-dress and one in full winter dress. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



