172 SCOLOPAClDyE. 
bird. Though I never shot a specimen myself, it is uot of 
uncommon occurrence in the winter on the coast, being, if I 
may use the use the expression, a regular sea-side bird. 
The Purple Sandpiper is distinguished by the general bluish 
lead-coloured tinge of the upper parts of the plumage, and 
by the dirty yellow colour of the legs, which, being rather 
short in proportion to the size of the bird, give it a squat or 
stumpy appearance. 
239. Tringa subarquata, Giild. The Pygmy or Curlew 
Sandpiper. 
All that Favier has in his MS. relative to this bird is that 
it " passes near Tangier during the month of April, returning 
south in September." 
The Curlew Sandpiper I never obtained on its autumnal 
passage ; but in some years vast numbers passed at Gibraltar 
towards the end of April, usually in lots of from ten to twenty 
in number ; they were occasionally mixed up with Dunlins 
[T. cinclus), and were chiefly to be seen at the mouths of 
rivers, particularly about Palmones. When flying they may 
be easily distinguished by the white rump, which, when they 
are on the wing, is very conspicuous. They are in good red 
or breeding-plumage by the 26th of April ; that is to say, the 
male birds are ; but the females are slower in assiiming this 
dress, and probably never become as bright as their mates. 
About Gibraltar this Sandpiper and others bear the trivial 
name " pitillo.^^ Lord Lilford informs me that he met with 
the present species at the same place and time as the Knots 
{T. canutus), and in equal numbers. Curiously, during that 
spring. Curlew Sandpipers were unusually abundant near Gib- 
raltar, but not a single Knot did I obtain or see. There is, 
however, not much ground suitable for the various species of 
Tringa in the vicinity of the Rock. 
240. Tringa minuta, Leisler. The Little Stint. 
This small Sandpiper is not mentioned by Favier as occur- 
ring on the Moorish coast ; but it is found there from autumn 
to spring; and I fell in with vast flocks at Masharalhaddar on 
