SCOLOPACID^.] 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



TRINGA STRIATA, Linn^us. 



Explanation of Plate. 



Figure 1. Akureyri, Iceland, June 2, 1892. In collection of H. Massey, Esq. 

 „ 2. Greenland, May 24, 1892. Ditto. 



3. Ditto. May 19, 1881. Ditto. 



„ 4. Akureyri, Iceland, May or June, 1892. In collection of F. Poynting. 

 ,, 5. Ditto. Ditto. 



„ 6. Finmark, June 10, 1890. In collection of H. Massey, Esq. 

 „ 7. Greenland, May 25, 1880. Ditto. 



„ 8. Ditto. June 30, 1890. Ditto. 



„ 9. Ditto. May 28, 1892. Ditto. 



„ 10. Iceland, May 16, 1891. Ditto. 



„ 11. Ditto. Ditto. 



„ 12. Umanak, Greenland, June 6, 1892. Ditto. 



This species is a regular winter visitor to the British Islands, a few 

 examples being sometimes observed during the summer. It is supposed that 

 it may have bred in our islands, but no identified eggs appear to have been 

 obtained. 



Refeebing to the geographical distribution of the Purple Sandpiper, Mr. Howard 

 Saunders says * : — " This species breeds in considerable numbers no further off than 

 the Faeroes, especially on Sandoe ; while in Iceland, Greenland, Spitzbergen, 

 Novaya Zemlya, and throughout the greater part of the Arctic regions, it is the most 

 plentiful of its genus. Owing to the influence of the warm Gulf Stream, it is 

 resident or only partially migratory on the coast of Norway, and is even found on 

 the shores of Sweden during winter, though not common at any season far up the 

 Baltic ; while southward, we trace it on passage along the Atlantic sea-board down 

 to Morocco. It may possibly iiest high up in the mountains on some of the 



* ' Manual of British Birds,' pp. 579, 580. 



H 



