THE PURPLE SANDPIPER 163 



loral patch dark brown. Scapulars and tertia- 

 ries dark brown and black with buff or whitish 

 edges. Wing coverts light grayish brown with 

 lighter, even whitish, edges to the feathers. 

 Primaries dark brown. Rump and tail coverts 

 brownish black. Tail with dark brown central 

 feathers, growing lighter toward the sides, outer 

 pair margined with white. Feet and legs dull 

 olive. In length from eight to nine and one- 

 half inches, and ranging from fifteen to seven- 

 teen in extent. An overgrown least sandpiper 

 in appearance. 



THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. "ROCK- 

 WEED BIRD/' 



(Arquatella maritima.) 



With the winter comes the Purple Sandpiper 

 out of the north, seeking warm weather in Jan- 

 uary and February on the New England coast ! 

 But then, he has his own ideas as to climate. 



This is a dweller on the sea ledges, truly 

 named the "Rockweed Bird," for on the brown 

 and slippery masses of seaweed on the deep- 

 water ledges he finds the snails and marine 

 creatures which furnish his table. Only on the 



