DUNLIN.
removing a couple of eggs dial remained unbroken in a neat on the flat moors of Caithness, that one of the
keepers put his foot upon while we were watching the movements of the Arctic Skuas breeding on the tines.
While making observation, in Caithness anil collecting in that and the adjoining county of Sutherland, 1
received greal issistanee fmm the late Mr. W. Dunbar, who hired a great extent of ground for sport ing-purposes
in that part of the county. During a residence of two or three weeks at Strathmore Dodge, i noticed that in
the evening Dunlins were repeatedly seen on I he lawn in front of the house, w Inch was unenclosed towards the
open moor-land. On every occasion they were in attendance on one or two Golden Phners, standing on the
short green turf about, a yard behind. On account of this curious habit of following the Golden Plover,
alighting at the same time and retaining their position if an advance was made, I ascertained they were known
in this part of the country by the name of the " Plover's Page"*.
Dunlins do not show a partiality for the Norfolk freshwater Broads, hut few, except, on rare occasions,
visiting these localities, the absence of the food on which they usually subsist being doubtless the cause of a
move being made to other quarters. I can find but one or two entries in my notes where the species is
referred to during the many years spent on lliekling Broad, lleighum Sound", and tin' adjoining pieces of
water, and in only one instance arc they mentioned as being met with in considerable numbers.
" April os, 1SSIJ, A cold breeze from the cast-south-east. Grasshopper Warblers beard for the first, time
in the season, and Brag-Ouzels observed. The whole of the Buffs aud Beeves were gathered together on one
of the hills, and proved utterly unapproachable. There were many Black Terns, exhibiting n great difference
in plumage, and also several Common Terns beating about over the water ; Grecnshanks. Curlew, and Wbimbrcl
weic Hying round in small parties or singly, and for the first time on this Broad a large flock of Dunlins
attracted my attention, sweeping in a cloud here and there over the water, and liuallv alighting on the grassy
point of ' Swimcoats.' There were swarms of variou- species of Wader- and Terns, and till prui cd exceedingly
unsuspicious of danger with the exception of the Buffs and Beeves, which nee on wing at once if fhe punt
approached their quarters."
In the summer of 1S73 I witnessed n rather amusing mishap that befel a juvenile of this species on
Breydon mudllats ; and a short extract from my notes will give an account of the affair:—
"August 11, 1873. Wind west. While watching some young Dunlins running about, feeding in the
shallow water about the ' lumps' within ten yards of the punt, I noticed one make an attempt to rise on wing,
but was immediately dragged down again by a large cockle firmly- fixed on to one of its toes. The poor
little bird flapped helplessly on the surface of the water for about a minute, but succeeded in getting free just as
I arrived on the spot, having left the boat to render assistance."
The first year that the preservation of Waders and other species came in force I was on Breydon, and the
effect it had on the birds gathered together on the mudllats was remarkable. A short extract from my notes
refers to the subject:—
" May 8, 1873. Wind north. Up Breydon soon after daylight with the flood-tide. There were a few Grey
Plovers in the intermediate stage between winter and summer plumage, their breasts speckled with black ami
white. Then- was also a tloek of about two hundred Dunlins intermixed with a few Binged Plover, as well as
half a dozen Sandcrlings, which kept together. These litllc Waders (thanks to the new Act) were perfectly fearless,
allowing us to work the punt up within a few yards. Nearly all were noting on one leg, with the bead covered
with the feathers of the back, and only moved off a few yards ou the approach of the punt; while crossing the
smaller drains they still kept the leg drawn up, and on alighting again immediately settled to repose."
On the following day. May 9l)l, then- were again immense numbers of Dunlins, Binged Plovers, anil a few
Sandcrlings. A Dunlin suddenly startled from sleep bopped such a distance that I almost became convinced he
must be wounded, till i t hist, when at a distance of about three yards from the side of the punt, he faced round
and, producing the missing leg, low cretl his neck and deliberately scratched the back of his head.
PURPLE SAN DP IP KB.
TRINGJ MARITIMA.
Tun Purple Sandpiper is one of the most confiding of the leathered tribe ; such slight regard do they pay at
times to a near approach that, feeding quietly in some dark pool or crevice among the rocks, their presence
might easily lie overlooked. More fearless even than the Dunlin, a charge of shot through their ranks does
not appear to instil the accustomed dread of their natural enemy, usually so soon acquired.
In May IStio, I found a large flock of some hundreds in the finest stage of summer plumage resorting to
the range of rocks on which the beacon stands below Seaclilf, on the coast-line of the I'irlh of Forth Utwccu
Canty Bay aud Dunbar. The conspicuous red-brown tint ou their hacks shown off to the fullest advantage
by the bright sunlight, at once attracted my attention, and imagining, from what I had previously learned
concerning the species, that their presence at this season was unusual, no time was lost in procuring specimens.
In such dense and coni|iact order did the whole mass wheel round when driven up, that the single shot fired
proved far more destructive than I anticipated. Not more than a couple of minutes had passed before they were
back almost on the same spot, running, apparently unconcerned, within the distance of a few yards while the
victims that had faflen wen? still being collected. This was the only occasion in spring on which these
unsuspecting buds were molested, though several parties were met with here and there along the [edges of rock
as far ns I followed the coast-line towards the east. The numbers decreased early in June; a few, however,
remained till the following month and, indeed, all through the summer; these were, for the most part, in worn
and dingy plumage, and usually in company with Turnstones. As far south as the Fern Islands, aud on many
of the straggling rucks composing that dangerous group, I frequently recognized the two species during May
ind June. In no instance could I learn, from personal observation or any trustworthy source, tliat they
u no ins
wed on ur sh
oulu 1 learn, iro
rent, I mm awan
nd bred on our shores. I am aware that eggs strongly resembling those of the Purple Bandptper
nrted to have been procured at various points round the British coasts; but in no single instance have
I have h -en pr •cured at various
u and tlu birds
ck that ringe the shell-strewn
ad and r mind owards the soutl
their w y tow aids the north, a
g the ro ky is ets off the west ci
et with c rly in May every season
ith old i nd yo ong iu mixed an
mpctent judge. 1 have noticed small parties in May ou the
beach f In some of the hays and creeks between Thurso and
Dtnoby Head and round towards the south; these all exhibited the full summer dress, and were, in all
rolwbility, on their way towards the north, as, with few exceptions, they had departed by the following
of Boss-shire, and also in the Outer Hebrides, n few small
isited the district.
irieguied stages of plumage may be observed along the east
!ug of September, it is not till a month or six weeks later that any
number are usually found along the shores of the eastern and southern counties of Bnglaud.