DUNLIN. 
365 
nest, for the most part merely rounding into form the 
grass or moss amongst which it is about to lay its eggs: 
sometimes pieces of heath and a little dry grass are added, 
but this is not often. I once found the nest of this species 
upon one of the unfrequented moors of Shetland, and not 
then well knowing the eggs, I left them till I could re¬ 
turn with my gun to secure one of the birds. I did return 
a few hours afterwards, but the eggs were gone, and 
though I have no evidence to prove it, I have myself no 
doubt that the birds had removed them to a place of 
safety. It was at least much more probable than that 
human means had done so in a district scarcely ever trod¬ 
den. 
In beauty of colouring and elegance of form, the eggs 
of the Dunlin are unrivalled The ground-colour is some¬ 
times of a clear light green, richly spotted with light 
brown; sometimes, as in the variety found by Mr. Sal¬ 
mon in Orkney, a specimen of which he was so good as 
to send me, the ground-colour is of a bluish white : the 
light variety figured in the plate, from the collection of 
Mr. Newton, is uncommon, and is like eggs of the wood 
sandpiper. 
