528 THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



erally pretty dark, but sometimes lighter, pretty largely and 

 distinctly spotted with dark brown and neutral, the mark- 

 ings sometimes forming a blotched and scrolled wreath 

 around the large end. The young are gray, with dark 

 markings. 



The Willet is a rather southerly species, breeding, 

 indeed, from the West Indies to Labrador, but being 

 much more abundant to the south. Nor is it confined to 

 the sea-shore, as was formerly supposed. Dr. Coues says: 

 " I have found it wherever I have been in the United States. 

 There were a few on the Upper Rio Grande when I crossed 

 that river in June, 1864, and during the same month I saw 

 many more westward, in New Mexico, especially along the 

 Zuni River, where I am sure they were breeding. Some 

 resided in a marshy tract near Fort Whipple, in Arizona. 

 Others occurred to me in June and July in Eastern Dakota." 

 They are also officially reported from the Northwest Terri- 

 tory, as "frequent on the borders of salt lakes and ponds." 

 The Willet has never been found, however, in very high 

 latitudes. 



In respect to the food of the Willet, it may be said, once 

 for all, that all the Waders feed on small mollusks and crus- 

 taceans, aquatic insects, and sand-worms. 



THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



A common winter resident about the rocky shores of 

 Nova Scotia, and particularly those of outlying islands, is 

 the Purple Sandpiper (Tringa maritima}. It is especially 

 common, in flocks of considerable size, sometimes as many 

 as a hundred, on Mud and Seal Islands, where they arrive in 

 December, and remain till May. These Rock Snipe, as 

 they are sometimes called, will crowd together, a whole 

 flock on a single rock, thus affording an exco'.c. ; mark for 



