LIMICOLM. 



( 247 ) 



SCOLOPACWyE. 



THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



Tringa striata. 



The Sandpipers, 

 A tiny flock, innumerable, as round 

 And round they flew, bewailed their broken ranks. 



Delta, The Fowler. 



The Purple Sandpiper is occasionally seen during winter 

 frequenting the low, tide-covered rocks on some parts of the 

 coast of Berwickshire, including Greenheugh Point, near 

 Oldcambus, where Mr. Hardy says he has observed a small 

 flock popping up and down close to the edge of the sea, like 

 so many mice at play. At ebb-tide it searches amongst 

 the sea-weed on the rocks for small marine creatures of 

 various kinds, and when the tide is flowing in it seems 

 to be fond of feeding close to the edge amid the splashing 

 spray. 



This species usually makes its appearance on the coast 

 in October, and departs in May for its breeding grounds in 

 the north of Europe. 



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