230 
PURRE OR DUNLIN. 
perse, for the most part inland, to various moorland 
districts, a few remaining in suitable localities near 
the shore, such as extensive mosses or salt marshes, 
and a considerable proportion also migrate entirely 
to a distant or new locality. In the north of Scot- 
land, where the country is intersected with arms of 
the sea, or studded thickly with large lochs, the 
shores and banks of which afford favourite breeding 
spots, we find them thickly frequented, a few pairs 
taking up a station at almost every hundred yards, 
where they reside as a constant haunt, and are so 
little molested, and consequently so tame, that when 
fishing, we have thrown our flies over, and caught 
the old birds rising on the shingle before us. The 
nest is placed under or by the side of some tuft or 
bush of grass or herbage, often ingeniously concealed, 
but exhibiting little workmanship, except a little 
hollowing and pressing of the dried grass to the 
bottom. 
In Europe its distribution, from all authorities, 
seems as wide and general as it is in Britain, 
abounding and breeding far to the north ; its range 
is also very equal over North America, reaching 
from Mexico to the fur countries. By Temminck, 
Japan and Timor are given as localities, where, 
however, it would seem to be a winter visitant only. 
From the difference in its plumage during summer 
and winter, very great confusion in the nomencla- 
ture existed, and it has been described in these states 
as distinct species. There is also great disparity in 
size, as w'e shall see in the dimensions to be given. 
