594 PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



unsuited to its habits, and it is rare or very local until Bering Strait 

 is reached. American ornithologists consider that the birds found 

 in that region — inclusive of Alaska — belong to a distinct species, T. 

 coiiesi, while a supposed third, T. pfiloc?iemis, is almost restricted to 

 the Pribilof Islands. The range in western Arctic America cannot, 

 therefore, be defined with certainty, but our bird undoubtedly breeds 

 in the north-eastern portion, migrating in winter to the Great Lakes 

 and the Middle States, and, exceptionally, to the Bermudas. 



In the circumpolar regions nests are frequently placed close to 

 the sea-shore; but in the Faeroes they were found by WoUey — and after- 

 wards by Col. Feilden — on the fells ; one being taken by the latter 

 on May 20th, when deep snow was still lying in the sheltered spots 

 and the tops of the hills were white. In Northern Iceland, also, 

 the Rev. H. H. Slater shot a brooding female at nearly t,6oo ft. above 

 sea-level. The nest is sometimes placed in a rather deep depression 

 in the ground, and is composed of grass, with a lining of dead 

 leaves ; the eggs, 4 in number, vary from pale green to olive or dull 

 buff, with purplish under-shell markings and reddish-brown surface- 

 blotches : measurements i"45 by i in. Attendance on the brood 

 and the larger share of the duties of incubation fall to the lot of 

 the male. In summer the food consists chiefly of insects; while in 

 winter the bird may be seen on the rocks, regardless of the drench- 

 ing spray, searching for small crustaceans and molluscs among the 

 sea-weed. The Purple Sandpiper swims well and voluntarily ; while, 

 owing to its tameness, few Sandpipers admit of closer observation. 

 The note is a weet-ivit. 



The adult in summer has the upper parts dark brownish-grey ; 

 the feathers of the mantle nearly black, spotted with rufous and 

 tipped with buffish-white ; the jth-gth secondaries chiefly white, 

 and very conspicuous in flight ; rump, tail-coverts, and central tail- 

 feathers sooty-brown, the remaining tail-feathers being ash-brown; 

 throat, neck and breast greyish, obscured with dusky-brown streaks; 

 belly whiter, and the flanks spotted with dark brown; legs and feet 

 ochreous-yellow, the hind-toe directed inwards. Length 875 in. 

 (bill i*i), wing 5 in. ; females being rather larger than males. In 

 the young bird the feathers of the mantle and breast have cres- 

 centic white edges, which wear off later. In winter the dull upper 

 plumage has a purple gloss, and the breast is dark ash-brown with 

 only faint striations or mottlings, while on the flanks the markings 

 are bolder. The species may be easily recognized by its dark 

 colour, short legs, and generally ' dumpy ' appearance. 



