154 



CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



• On the dunlin {Tringa variabilis). — The birds "Pliny of 

 Lancaster" has seen on the sea shore, presenting an alternate dark or 

 silvery white appearance as they have their backs or breasts towards 

 him, is the dunlin {Tringa variabilis) in winter plumage ; the purr or 

 stint ( Tringa cinclus) of Bewick, or ox bird, as it is here called, of 

 which his dunlin [Tringa alpina) is a figure and description in its 

 summer plumage. 



With regard to their scarcity. In summer they disperse to breed, to 

 what part I am not able to say (none ,of them stay in this neigh- 

 bourhood), and at that time it is most' probable that not more than 

 a pair will be seen together ; but about the middle of July the old ones 

 arrive here, and the first of the young the beginning of August ; and all 

 that month and September continue to come, and during the winter, 

 may be seen in immense flocks traversing the surface of the water ; or 

 sometimes rising higher, they appear like a dark cloud, and rapidly 

 turning and presenting their breasts to the spectator, they all at once 

 appear of a snowy white. These evolutions are chiefly performed during 

 the time of high water; and when the tide leaves, they may be seen 

 busily running over the sands in quest of food. 



In February, a few red feathers may be seen on the backs of some 

 individuals; in March they become beautifully variegated, and the 

 black on the breast begins to appear ; many of them take their depar- 

 ture this month ; some, however, stay till April, and a few even to the 

 beginning of May : these acquire their full summer plumage before 

 they leave ; and it is then that I have obtained them in greatest per- 

 fection for preserving, although some good coloured ones may be got 

 when they first return in July. 



The young when they first come, are very differently marked from 

 the adult bird in any state of plumage, and it is exceedingly interesting 

 to watch the progress of their changes of colour during the months of 

 August, September, October, and November, when they get their 

 perfect winter dress, and are no longer to be distinguished from their 

 parents. C. Parsons. 



The redbreast. — I am sorry to have committed any error in the 

 few observations {professedly " facts") which appeared in your number 

 for February; but speaking of the robin, I should have said that he 

 enters the suburbs of London, about the middle of August ; for it is 

 rarely that he is seen in the metropolis during the breeding season, 

 though in winter his familiarity is daily observed. It was the circum- 



