100 
PURRE DUNLIN. 
between the upper mandible of the beak and the eye, 
the abdomen and under tail-coverts are pure white : 
between the beak and the eye is a brown stripe : the 
neck and breast are yellowish-red, with longitudinal 
brown spots : on the belly are several dusky-black 
spots, which are irregularly placed in patches : the 
feathers of the back and the scapulars are black, 
edged with clear red and yellowish, but some of 
them are entirely cinereous towards the approach of 
the winter : the wing-coverts are brown, edged with 
yellowish-red. 
Montao;u was the first naturalist who determined 
the point respecting the identity of the Purre and 
the Dunlin, he having with infinite pains collected a 
quantity of specimens together during the periods of 
moulting ; by which means he ascertained that the 
two supposed species were but one. Temminck and 
Sabine are also of this opinion : and these two birds 
appearing and disappearing in regular succession, 
annually, also tend to confirm the above. 
This species is in plenty in this country, and 
during the winter season is found on the flat sandy 
shores and inlets of the coast, where large flocks are 
seen in company with Sanderlings, Dotterels, &c. 
They run nimbly close to the water's edge, and are 
peqietually wagging their tails, whilst they are busily 
engaged in picking up their food, which consists of 
small worms and insects. During the summer they 
also frequent the coasts and prepare their nest, laying 
three or four very large eggs, which are greenish- 
white, varied with blotches and spots of brown. 
It appears to be widely dispersed over Europe and 
