PURPLE SANDPIPER. 385 



Strangely enough, this species is not included by Messrs. 

 Paget in their list of Yarmouth birds, but Mr. W. R. 

 Fisher, in a note "on the occurrence of rare birds at 

 Great Yarmouth," published in the " Zoologist " for 

 1843 (p. 182), alluding to its variable numbers, says 

 "In 1841, I saw but one specimen, which occurred 

 October 23rd. In 1842, from October 22nd to De- 

 cember 10th, inclusive, it was comparatively common." 

 I have known the young of the year killed at Sher- 

 ringham as early as the second or third week in 

 August, but they are more generally met with during 

 the three following months. On the 12th of January, 

 1861, two or three were shot on Sherringham beach, 

 in company with knots, godwits, &c., during severe 

 weather; and in 1864, 1866, and 1867, one or more 

 specimens were obtained in each year at Blakeney, 

 Hunstanton, Yarmouth, and Lynn, in December and 

 January, during frost and snow. A female shot on 

 the 31st of December, 1866, on Breydon water, as 

 recorded by Mr. T. E. Gunn, in the "Naturalist" 

 for 1867 (p. 177) had the ovary full of minute 

 eggs," and the contents of the stomach consisted 

 of "young shrimps, small aquatic snails, and a few 

 small stones." An adult female in winter plumage was 

 killed at Cley, on the 30th of October, 1869, by Mr. E. 

 Upcher, of Kirby Cane. Mr. Hunt includes this species 

 in his " List " as occurring on Cromer beach, and states 

 that " the specimen in the Norwich Museum, preserved 

 by the Rev. W. Whitear, was killed at Yarmouth." 

 Mr. Dowell has known several killed in different seasons 

 at Blakeney, Morston, and Salthouse, between Sep- 

 tember and January, but for the most part occurring 

 singly. In 1847, however, on the 17th of November, 

 he killed six at Salthouse and saw five more, the wind 

 at the time blowing a gale from the north and north- 

 3 D 



