138 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Filial 1}^, Lieut. A. W. Greely, commander of the late expedition to 

 Lady Franklin Sound, succeeded in obtaining the long sought-for 

 egg, and with great propriety requested Dr. C. H. Merriam to accept 

 the honor of being the first to publish the account of it. 



The specimens of bird and egg were obtained in the vicinity of 

 Fort Conger, latitude 81° 44' N. 



In color the egg was light pea-green, closely spotted with brown 

 in small specks about the size of a pin-head. 



Subgenus ARQUATELLA Baird. 

 TRINGA MARITIMA (Brunn.). 



97. Purple Sandpiper. (235) 



Bill, little longer than the head, much longer than the tarsus, straight or 

 nearly so ; tibial feathers, long, reaching to the joints ; though the legs are 

 rarely bare a little way above. Adult: — Above, ashy -black, with purplish and 

 violet reflections, most of the feathers with pale or white edgings ; secondaries, 

 mostly white; line over eye, eyelids and under parts, white; the breast and 

 jugulum, a pale cast of the color of the back ; and sides marked with the same. 

 In winter, and most immature birds, the colors are similar but much duller ; 

 very young birds have tawny edgings above, and are mottled with ashy and 

 dusky below. Length, 8-9 inches; wing, 5; tail, 2^, rounded; bill, 1^; tarsus, 

 I ; middle toe, 1 , or a little more. 



Hab. — jSTorthern portions of the northern hemisphere; in North America, 

 chiefly the northern portions, breeding in the high aiorth, migrating in winter 

 to the Eastern and Middle States, the Great Lakes and the shores of the larger 

 streams in the Mississippi Valley. 



Nest, a mere depression in the ground with a scant lining of grass. 



The eggs are said to be four in number, clay color, shaded with olive, and 

 marked with rich umber-brown. 



This, like the preceding species, is common to both continents, and 

 is of circumpolar distribution. If it has been in the habit of passing 

 this way, it did so without being observed till the 31st of October, 

 1885, when one individual was killed at Hamilton Beach, by Dr. 

 K. C. Mcllwraith. This is the only record we have of it in the 

 Province. 



As its name (mnrifima) implies, it is a bird of the sea coast, but 

 though a Sandpiper, it is not so fond of the sandy shores as it is of 

 the rocky ledges covered with sea weeds, where it no doubt finds 

 something to suit its taste. The name purple might lead a stranger 

 to expect this to be a bird of showy colors, but in general appearance 



