408 THE BROAD-BILLED AND THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



According to Faber, one frequently sees in Iceland, during 

 the spring of the year, a solitary dunlin that attaches itself 

 in a most extraordinary manner to a solitary golden plover ; 

 and in every way acts towards it the part of a guide and 

 protector, until such time as the plover has found a mate. 

 This singular proceeding on the part of the dunlin has been 

 noticed from olden times, and has probably given rise to its 

 Icelandic name of L6u Pr&ll, that is, the servant of the 

 golden plover. In like manner as the dunlin guards and 

 tends the golden plover in Iceland, the common sandpiper 

 on the islands of the Baltic Sea has been observed to act 

 the part of a servant, or guardian, towards the redshank 

 sandpiper (called, as said, Tolk, or interpreter) ; for which 

 reason it is there commonly designated Tolka-Piga, or hand- 

 maid to the interpreter. 



The Broad-billed Sandpiper (Bred-nabbad Strand-Vipa, 

 Sw. ; T. platyrhinca, Temm.) was rare with us, though 

 occasionally met with, both in the vicinity of Ronnum and 

 on the neighbouring coast. It is also rare in the south of 

 Sweden, as well as in Denmark. It would seem for the 

 most part to pass the summer months in the more northern 

 portions of Scandinavia. Mr. Richard Dann, who, so far as 

 I am aware, is the only one that has found its nest in the 

 peninsula, describes it as greatly resembling that of the com- 

 mon snipe, and the eggs, of which he does not state the 

 number, as being of a deep chocolate colour. Migrates. 



The Purple Sandpiper (Svart-grd Strand-Vipa, Sw. ; 

 T. maritima, Briinn.) was never observed by us in the 

 vicinity of Ronnum ; but in the fall of the year it was very 

 common in the adjoining Skargard. At this season it is 

 also common along the whole coast as far as Scania ; and like- 



