PURRE OR DUNLIN. 87 



making it a companion in a sitting-room. The call-note 

 resembles the sound kwee, kwee ! and is very often heard. 

 The food of the Dunlin consists principally of insects 

 and their larvae, and small worms, which it draws forth 

 with its beak out of the soft mud ; and for want of these, 

 small beetles, gnats, and sandflies, where the ground affords 

 them. In confinement, worms must be chopped up in 

 bread and milk, which very soon accustoms the bird to 

 universal paste, varied from time to time with, a supply of 

 worms ; and accompanied at all times by a dish of clean 

 water for bathing, and for standing in to cool its feet. 



The present species retires to the north-eastern parts of 

 Europe to breed ; Iceland and Lapland are also the birth- 

 places of great numbers. It has been remarked, that the 

 Dunlin follows the custom of the rook, in constructing 

 its nest in society with those of its own species, thus ac- 

 counting for the large flights that keep together at 

 all times of the year. Thus much is ascertained, that these 

 birds choose their breeding locality on flats inland, and at a 

 considerable distance from the sea, and where they breed 

 several broods are hatched ; the nest consists of a hollow 

 scratched in the ground, generally on a raised clod or hillock 

 in moist situations ; this hollow is scantily lined with dry 

 mosses, and other vegetable productions found in the neigh- 

 bourhood ; the eggs are three or four in number and marked 

 as represented in our plate. During the time of hatching, 

 the male bird amuses its mate with its song, but as soon as 

 danger approaches, he gives notice of it by means of an 

 alarm note, which gives the female time to run from the 

 nest, and assist in worrying the enemy. This behaviour fre- 

 quently shews the intruder where the nest is, and thus 

 becomes the cause of its destruction, or rather that of the 

 eggs. The young leave the nest as soon as they are 



