TRINGA CINCLUS.* 



THE PURRE. 

 [Plate L VII. Fig. 3.1 



LINN. Syst. 251. tret. ZooL p. 475, JVb. 390. BEWICK, n, p. 

 115. ISJllouette de iner, BUFF, vn, 548. PEALE'S Museum, 

 JVo. 4126. 



THIS is one of the most numerous of our Strand-birds, as 

 they are usually called, that frequent the sandy beech, on the 

 frontiers of the ocean. In its habit it differs so little from the 

 preceding, that, except in being still more active and expert in 

 running, and searching among the sand, on the reflux of the 

 waves, as it nimbly darts about for food, what has been said of 

 the former will apply equally to both, they being pretty constant 

 associates on these occasions. 



The Purre continues longer with us both in spring and au- 

 tumn than either of the two preceding; many of them remain 

 during the very severest of the winter, though the greater part 

 retire to the more genial regions of the south; where I have seen 

 them at such seasons, particularly on the seacoasts of both Ca- 

 rolinas, during the month of February, in great numbers. 



These birds, in conjunction with several others, sometimes 

 collect together in such flocks, as to seem, at a distance, a large 

 cloud of thick smoke, varying in form and appearance every 

 instant, while it performs its evolutions in air. As this cloud 

 descends, and courses along the shores of the ocean, with great 

 rapidity, in a kind of waving serpentine flight, alternately 

 throwing its dark and white plumage to the eye, it forms a very 

 grand and interesting appearance. At such times the gunners 

 make prodigious slaughter among them; while, as the showers 



* The preceding 1 species in immature plumage. 



