246 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



Upon the same shores we may also find 

 the TURNSTONE (Strepsilas interpres\ especially 

 during the spring and autumn migration, when it 

 passes along our coasts on its way to and from its 

 Arctic breeding-grounds. Another pretty bird 

 in gray and white plumage like the Knot, only 

 smaller, and with a short black bill, is the 

 SANDERLING (Calidris arenaria). It is a gentle,, 

 trustful little creature, fond of sandy beaches, 

 where it may be found all the winter through, 

 though most abundant during passage. All these 

 birds are of very similar habits and movements, 

 running nimbly about the shore, ever searching 

 its wet surface for the creatures on which they 

 feed. Then along the more rocky coasts places 

 where the beach is rough at low water and the 

 shingly strands, we may occasionally come across 

 the PURPLE SANDPIPER (Tringa maritima), re- 

 markable for its dark, purplish plumage and white 

 innermost secondaries. It loves to frequent the 

 rocks over which the waves are breaking, catch- 

 ing the tiny creatures left stranded by the in- 

 coming sea ; and during its search for food keeps 

 close to the very edge of the water, running over 

 the wet, slimy rocks with remarkable agility and 

 grace. Then we have the BAR-TAILED GODWIT 

 (Limosa rufa) passing along the coast in spring 

 and autumn, especially the latter season, but a 

 few remain during winter too. It is readily 

 identified by its long recurved beak and nearly 

 uniform ash-coloured tail in winter ; the latter is 

 barred in summer plumage. Then there is the 

 WHIMBREL (Numenius phceopus), a bird like the 

 Curlew, only smaller, with the crown of the head 

 brown, crossed with a white mesial line, and 



