RED DUNLIN. 
97 
coverts dusky, edged with reddish-yellow, or deep 
brown, edged with whitish : the tail is of a dusky- 
ash, bordered with white. During the winter the 
forehead, the eyebrows, throat, the upper tail-coverts, 
the vent, and all the under parts are pure white : 
between the beak and the eye is a brown stripe : the 
top of the head, the back, the scapulars, and the 
wing-coverts are of an ashy-brown, with a deeper 
brown dash in the direction of the shafts : the fea- 
thers of the neck are longitudinally rayed with 
brown, and edged with whitish : the fore part of the 
neck and the breast are the same, but of a clearer 
tint : the tail is ash-coloured, edged with white ; the 
outer feathers are white within. The beak is black, 
the irides brown, and the legs are brown or dusky- 
ash : the length of the bird is about eight inches. 
The young greatly resemble in colour that of the 
old in winter ; but the centre of the feathers of the 
back, the scapulars, and the wing-coverts are dusky- 
ash, bordered and terminated by a broad band of 
yellowish-white : no distinct spots on the breast, 
which is slightly shaded with yellow, white, and 
bright brown : the beak is slightly arcuated, and 
about an inch and a half in length : the legs are 
brown. 
This bird is a native of most parts of Europe, 
frequenting the borders of the sea and lakes, and 
but rarely appearing inland : it migrates in the spring 
and autumn : its food consists of small insects and 
worms : it occasionally breeds in Holland, near the 
water ; laying four or five yellowish eggs, spotted 
with brown. It has also been taken in England. 
V. XII. p. I. 7 
