NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 263 



hills. It seems probable that this species pairs for life, 

 as there is evidence to show that it returns annually to 

 one spot to breed. The nest is a mere hollow, lined 

 with a few bits of dry vegetable refuse, such as moss or 

 grass. The bird is a close sitter, sometimes remaining 

 brooding over the eggs until nearly trodden upon, and 

 then suddenly rising and feigning lameness. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Purple Sandpiper are four in number. 

 They are pyriform in shape, smooth in texture, and 

 vary in ground colour from pale olive to buffish-brown, 

 spotted, blotched, mottled, and streaked with dark 

 blackish-brown and reddish-brown, and with underlying 

 markings of pale brown and lilac-gray. The eggs of this 

 Sandpiper are very beautifully marked. One type has 

 the markings large and bold, and scattered obliquely 

 round the major half of the tgg, the smaller markings 

 being on the minor half; another has them large and 

 small, evenly distributed over most of the surface ; 

 another has spots, streaks, and dark scratches inter- 

 mingled with the ordinary blotches. On most the 

 underlying markings are very conspicuous, and add 

 much to the beauty of the Qgg. Average measurement, 

 1*5 inch in length, by 1*05 inch in breadth. Incubation 

 is performed by both sexes, but the duration of the 

 period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Purple 

 Sandpiper cannot always be distinguished from those of 

 the Common a:id Jack Snipes, but the ground colour is 

 generally much more olive. They require careful iden- 

 tification in many localities, where the breeding areas of 

 these species impinge. 



