[Illustration: DUNLIN _Tringa alpina_ Winter (above). Summer (below)] The eggs are greenish white, spotted and blotched with reddish brown. The young when first hatched are covered with reddish down, mottled with black and white. In its winter dress the adult Dunlin is grey above and white below with a whitish bar across the extended wing. In spring the crown of the head is rufous, streaked with black. Mantle black, with broad rufous margins; the neck and throat white, streaked with black, breast black; belly white. The sexes are alike, the female being usually slightly the larger. Length about 7·5 in; bill 1·7 in.; wing 4·5 in. This species, however, varies greatly in size. The young in autumn have the back nearly black, the feathers having narrow buff and rufous margins; the under parts are white, buff across the breast, and thickly spotted, especially on the lower breast, with black. The amount of spotting, however, as well as the colour of the breast, varies greatly in individuals. THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Tringa pusilla, Linnæus A single example, the first to be recorded in Europe, of this American species, was shot in Kent on the 17th September 1907. In general appearance it resembles a Little Stint, but is rather paler and more sandy in colour, and may easily be recognised by its longer bill and partially webbed toes. Length 5·6 in.; bill 0·85 in.; wing 3·7 in. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER Tringa bardi (Coues) This is an American species, and has recently been twice obtained in England. In winter it closely resembles a Dunlin in general appearance, but is slightly streaked on the back. Its summer plumage is quite distinct. Length about 8 in.; wing 4·7 in. THE LITTLE STINT Tringa minuta, Leisler This, the smallest of our shore-birds, is not a very common species. It occurs yearly on the autumn migration, along our eastern and southern coasts, but on the west it is very irregular in its appearance and decidedly rare. Its breeding-grounds are the tundras of Northern Europe, though it is decidedly scarce as a breeding species in the north-west; it winters in the tropical regions of the Old World. In its habits and food it closely resembles the Dunlin, but its much smaller size enables it to be easily recognised. In plumage it is practically a miniature Dunlin, but it lacks the black on the breast, which in the breeding plumage has a reddish tinge. Length 6 in.; bill 0·7 in.; wing 3·55 in. THE AMERICAN STINT Tringa minutilla, Vieillot This species has occurred in this country on two or three occasions. It is practically the counterpart of our species and can only be distinguished by its rather smaller size and darker colour. Length 5·25 in.; wing 3·5 in.