PURPLE SANDPIPER 307 
the Dublin coast as late as the middle of May.’ When 
traversing the seaweed-covered rocks at low water, small 
parties of from three to five Purple Sandpipers may often 
be met with. They are unsuspicious little birds, and will 
admit of near approach and close inspection. | When feed- 
ing, they dart to and fro, foraging in the seaweeds. One 
or two may disappear in a crevice; others may be seen 
running to the summit of a boulder with the nimbleness of 
a rat. Their hunger being satisfied, they remain on the 
rocks, enjoying the “drenching spray as though it were but 
a salt-water shower-bath. I have observed small parties of 
Purple Sandpipers sticking to their slippery platform during 
a severe gale, when the spitting foam of the angry breakers 
fell all around. Indeed, these birds are often quite reluc- 
tant to quit a favourite rock, and will return to it after 
having been repeatedly frightened away. ‘The late Mr. E. 
Williams has noted that in rough weather they will huddle 
close together on the top of a rock, where they will remain 
quiet, almost motionless, for a very considerable time. 
They frequently associate with Turnstones, less often with 
Redshanks and Ringed Plovers. Kven then they are none 
the less confiding, and, at the approach of an intruder, 
seldom accompany their more wary companions on the 
wing. The Purple Sandpiper may exceptionally be met 
with away from the tide. It is a good swimmer, and will 
cross deep rock-pools of its own accord. However, it does 
not appear to settle down on the open sea. 
Flight.—The flight is much straighter than that of 
other small shore- birds, and this species 1s generally to be 
seen flying low and rapidly from rock to rock. 
Vowce.—The Purple Sandpiper is a comparatively silent 
bird along our shores. It utters a feeble note which may 
be syllabled weet-wit or tee-wit. 
Food.—Small crabs and shell-fish, which are found 
amidst seaweeds growing on rocks, also sand-hoppers, form 
the diet, while in the nesting-season insects are mainly 
eaten. I have frequently found coarse sand and pebbles, 
the latter measuring 5 x 4 mm., in the gizzard. 
Nest.—In the high Arctic regions, the Purple Sandpiper 
has been observed nesting in the vicinity of the sea-coast, 
' On May 183th, 1900, I saw four on the Dublin coast, in transition 
plumage: one which I obtained showed on dissection that it was a 
mature bird with large ova. 
