SANDPIPERS. 243 



once saw, from their narrow flat shanks and par- 

 tially webbed feet, that they were swimmers, though 

 I knew not of what species, till I reached home 

 and sought them out by reference to books. I have, 

 however, notes of fully a dozen obtained in Ireland 

 of late years. 



THE RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus hyper- 

 boreus) I never met with in Ireland. 



THE PURPLE SANDPIPER (Tringa maritima) is 

 not uncommon, and in some districts is even 

 numerous. They are very tame. You may pelt 

 them with stones and they will not rise, but merely 

 trot farther off. It is curious to see them running 

 about or sitting huddled up on the rocks, at the 

 verge of a lashing sea. Each wave looks as if it 

 must overwhelm them ; but no, they judge their 

 distance to a nicety, or stick like limpets to the 

 rock, amid the spray and foam. 



THE TURNSTONE (Strepsilas interpres) is not 

 common, although I have more than once seen 

 from eight to a dozen together, on the coast, in the 

 autumn oftener but two or three. 



THE OYSTER-CATCHER (Hamatopus ostralegus) 

 may be seen in numbers varying from ten to a score 

 together, and at a distance, when flying, bear a 

 strong resemblance to Wigeon. 



R 2 



