146 BULLETIN 142, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ARQUATELLA MARITIMA (Brunnich) 

 PURPLE SANDPIPER 

 HABITS 



This hardy northern bird has well been called " winter snipe " 

 and " rock snipe," for it is known to us only as a winter visitor on 

 rocky shores. Although it does not breed quite as far north as some 

 species, it migrates for a shorter distance and winters farther north 

 than any other wader; in fact, the southern limit of its winter range 

 is far north of the normal winter range of any other. A. L. V. Man- 

 niche (1910) saw only three purple sandpipers during three seasons 

 in northeastern Greenland, and the Crockerland expedition saw 

 only one in northwestern Greenland in four years. Both expeditions 

 were probably north of its normal breeding range. 



Spring. — As soon as spring asserts itself the purple sandpipers 

 begin to desert their main winter range on the coast of New Eng- 

 land, some leaving in March and only a very few stragglers lingering 

 into May. On May 29, 1909, we saw a few late migrants on the 

 south coast of Labrador, where I secured one in full nuptial plumage. 

 Ludwig Kumlien (1879) says that the purple sandpiper is the first 

 wader to arrive in the spring at Cumberland Sound. 



The 4th of June is the earliest date I met them at Annanactook ; this was 

 during a heavy snowstorm, and the earliest date possible that they could have 

 found any of the rocks bare at low tide. The flock lit on the top of one of 

 the small islands in the harbor and sheltered themselves from the storm by 

 creeping behind and underneath ledges of rocks ; they then huddled together 

 like a flock of quails in winter. I have often noticed the same habit with them 

 in late autumn, while they were waiting for low tide. 



Courtship. — The same writer refers to a courtship performance, 

 as follows: 



As the breeding season approaches the males have a peculiar cry, resembling 

 somewhat that of Actiturus ~bartramius, but lower and not so prolonged. When 

 this note is uttered they assume a very dignified strut, and often raise the 

 wings up over the back and slowly fold them again, like the upland plover. 



Aubyn Trevor-Battye (1897) says: 



Like all sandpipers, they do much of their courtship on the wing, chasing 

 one another in circles with rapid turns and shifts. On the ground I have seen 

 the male bird approach the female with trailing wings, arched back, and head 

 low down, occasionally hopping, like a courting pigeon. 



This species seems to be rather rare in Baffin Land. I have two 

 sets of eggs, given to me by Capt. Donald B. MacMillan, collected 

 with the parent bird at Cape Dorset. J. Dewey Soper collected a 

 female there, with enlarged ovaries, on June 8; but he saw only 

 three birds during " the spring and summer of 1926 along the south 

 coast of Baffin Island." He says in his notes : 



