88 the ornithologist's guide 



these birds remain in both countries during the 

 winter, when, in consequence of their change of 

 plumage, they are considered to be a distinct 

 species, and are then called the Purre or Stint. At 

 this season they frequent the sea-shore, particu- 

 larly when there is much surf, and occasionally 

 the lakes near the sea. If, when only slightly 

 wounded^ the Dunlin should fall on the water, it 

 can readily raise itself and fly off. 



Phalaropus hyperboreus, Lath. Red- 

 necked Phalarope. — -I have never seen this bird in 

 Shetland. I got several in Orkney, but it is not plen- 

 tiful. It arrives in the month of July, and departs 

 on the approach of winter. It breeds in August, 

 and builds its nest in swampy situations close to 

 the edge of the water ; sometimes on small green 

 islands in the middle of the lakes. The places 

 where I procured their eggs and found the birds 

 most numerous, are in a small sheet of water three 

 or four miles from the lighthouse of Sanda, a lake 

 near Nunse Castle in Westra, and at Sandwick, 

 near Stromness. 



Crex pratensis, Bechst. Corn-Crake. Land- 

 Rail. This bird regularly visits Shetland and 

 Orkney in the summer ; it is very numerous in 



