THE LIMICOLZ OF THE CLYDE AREA. 49 
Then the difference between the species is easily noticed, as 
the curlew-sandpiper displays a conspicuous white rump, and, 
owing to its longer wings, flies with greater ease than the dunlin. 
The note is a musical “‘treep, treep,” allied as stated above 
to that of the little stint. Sometimes the note is prolonged, 
but it is always clearer and pleasanter than the “‘skree” of 
the dunlin. 
Purple Sandpiper (7. striata, L.)—A winter and spring 
resident on some of the rough shores of the Firth. It is 
common in South Ayrshire in the neighbourhood of Lendal- 
foot, but elsewhere it seems to be scarce, though it occurs 
near Portincross, in the Greater Cumbrae, and in the Kyles 
of Bute. Exceptionally it has strayed to Loch Lomond. It 
is a tame and confiding species, affecting rough and boulder- 
strewn parts of the coast. 
Knot (Z. canutus, L..}—A common autumn visitor to the 
coast. It was seen inland at Balgray Dam in the autumn of 
1911, a flock of twenty-four remaining for several days 
(“Glasgow Naturalist,” Vol IV., p. 8). It is perhaps the least 
shy of all our waders, and allows of a comparatively near 
approach. It flies rapidly and in compact flocks, resembling 
the golden plover in this respect. 
Sanderling (Calidris arenaria (L.))—An autumn and 
spring visitor to our sandy shores in flocks ranging from 
a few birds up to about twenty-five. A few may be seen 
even in mid-winter. In autumn and winter the sanderling 
may usually be distinguished by its light plumage, the 
under-parts being as white as those of a gull. If one gets 
a small flock of sanderlings isolated the birds are not par- 
ticularly shy, but keep racing on in front by the water’s 
edge, always at, to them, a safe distance vats the observer. 
The note is a short explosive ‘“ wick, wick,” said to resemble 
the note of the little stint, but in my opinion the resemb- 
lance is slight. 
Ruff (Machetes pugnax (L.) )—The ruff is an autumn visitor 
singly or in small numbers. Most occurrences have been 
noted inland, and probably more birds have been observed 
about Balgray Dam than in all the rest of our area. Eight 
have been observed there in one day. One must not infer 
from this that the ruff shuns the greater part of our district, 
for to any but the practised field ornithologist the ruff in 
