200 TRIXGA MAHITIMA. 



margined with light brownish-red ; the neck brownish-grey , 

 with darker streaks. The back is glossy purplish-black, the 

 feathers pale yellowish-brown towards the end, and the 

 scapulars tipped with white ; the hind part of the back is 

 liver brown, the upper tail-coverts purplish-black, except the 

 three lateral on each side, which are dusky, broadly edged 

 with white. The middle tail-feathers are greenish-brown, 

 the rest ash-grey tinged with brown. 



Length to end of tail 8|- inches ; wing from flexure 

 5 j ; tail 2 , 7 ., ; bill along the ridge 1 ^- ; tarsus j 9 ; middle 

 toel^. 



Female in Summer. — A female, from the same place, is 

 precisely similar. 



Length to end of tail 9 inches ; bill along the ridge 1 ^ ; 

 tarsus 1 !) n . 



Individuals, brought from Davis' Straits in 1837, are 

 similar to the above. In this state the Purple Sandpiper 

 bears so close a resemblance to the Dunlin, that the two 

 species might readily be confounded by that vaguely denned 

 or defining sort of person whom the ornithologists are fond 

 of denominating " a superficial observer." The breast how- 

 ever, although spotted, is never black. 



Habits. — Although not extremely rare, the Purple Sand- 

 piper is not very frequently met with. This happens partly 

 because it seldom forms large flocks, like those of the Dunlin 

 and Sanderling, and partly on account of its confining itself, 

 while searching for food, to the rocky parts of the coast. 

 Montagu mentions its occurrence on the coast of Caermar- 

 thenshire, near Sandwich, and in Somersetshire ; and Mr. 

 Selby states that it is a common bird in Northumberland. 

 Mr. Dunn says it " is very numerous in Shetland and Orkney, 

 appearing early in the spring and leaving again in the latter 

 end of April, about which time it collects in large flocks, and 

 may be found on the rocks at ebb-tide, watching each retir- 

 ing wave, running down as the water falls back, picking 

 small shell-fish off the stones, and displaying great activity 

 in escaping the advancing sea. It does not breed there." 



