238 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



portions of the Irish coast it is met with in winter, and I found 

 it, still in small flocks, on May i5th, in Co. Donegal." 



Range outside the British Islands. The Purple Sandpiper occurs, 

 and probably breeds, throughout the Arctic Regions, retiring only 

 for a comparatively short distance southwards in winter, though 

 some visit at this season of the year the Mediterranean countries 

 and the Azores ; and in the New World it occurs on the Great 

 Lakes and the Atlantic coasts of North America as far south 

 as the Bermudas. Even in Western Scandinavia it is found in 

 winter as well as in summer. 



Habits. Of these Mr. Seebohm gives the following account : 

 " Unlike most of its congeners, the Purple Sandpiper 

 loves a rocky coast, a bold shore where the rocks gradually 

 shelve down into the water or are left exposed in huge 

 masses at low tide. It is not often seen on a low sandy 

 beach ; but the wide, almost interminable, mud-flats which 

 have such a charm for most wading birds, are occa- 

 sionally frequented by the Purple Sandpiper. It visits the 

 coast in little parties ; but now and then a solitary bird is met 

 with, which will sometimes join a flock of Dunlins or other 

 small Waders. In many of its habits the Purple Sandpiper 

 differs considerably from its congeners. It loves to frequent 

 the shore when the waves are dashing over the rocks, and to 

 seek for its food, literally surrounded by the spray. Nimbly the 

 little creature trips, sure-footed over the wet, slippery rocks, 

 exulting in the wild strife of the waters, and appearing every 

 moment as though the huge angry waves would overwhelm it. 

 Tightly it clings to the boulders until each succeeding wave 

 has broken, when its active search commences. When the 

 gale is at its height it shuns the shore, or seeks safety and 

 shelter amongst the rocks at high-water mark ; and Saxby 

 states that in Shetland he has known it to take refuge under 

 the lee of a wall, and to feed within a few yards of his house. 



" The Purple Sandpiper is a very tame little bird, often allow- 

 ing the observer to approach to within a few feet as it stands 

 on the shore. Sometimes it is flushed with difficulty, or merely 

 contents itself with running along the shore just out of arm's 

 length. Saxby states that it is an excellent swimmer, and that 

 he has seen as many as three or four in calm weather swim- 



