DUNLIN 
271 
the head, and nearly as far as the tail, are much 
more noticeable in a living specimen than when the 
plumage is disturbed and draggled after death. 
DUNLIN. 
{Tringa alpira.) 
Sea Snipe, Sea Lark, Oxbird, Purre. — The 
Dunlin is most familiar as a bird of the sea-shore 
and tidal mud-banks. It is seen in its light 
skimming flocks at all seasons of the year, but 
especially in winter, when it returns, like the 
Curlew, from the high inland moors whither it 
mostly goes to breed, or from other regions far to 
northward of our islands. It nests occasionally in 
Devon, Cornwall, and Wales, more commonly in 
the counties north of the Trent, and in Ireland, 
and fairly frequently over a large part of Scotland 
and its islands. Occasionally it remains to breed 
on the sea-marshes and other waste land near the 
shore. In summer plumage it has the head, neck, 
and back warm reddish-brown, mottled with black ; 
the throat, wings, and tail are greyish, while there 
is a large black patch on the lower part of the 
breast. In winter it becomes plain greyish above 
and silvery white beneath. It is hardly as large as 
the Thrush in body, but its long legs and bill 
