306 CHABADEIID^E 



REFERENCE TO PLATE XXVI. 



(A) Little Stint. Autumn plumage (Immature). 



(B) Dunlin. Nuptial plumage (Mature). 



The bird in this figure belongs to the short and straight-billed form. Its 

 head, and that of the Little Stint, are figured, natural size, on Plate XXIV. 



(C) Curlew-Sandpiper. Autumn plumage (Immature). 



(D) Dunlin. Winter plumage (Immature). 



The bird in this figure belongs to the long and slightly decurved-billed 

 form. Its head, and that of the Curlew- Sandpiper, are figured, natural size, 

 on Plate XXVII. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. Tringa striata (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. iv, 

 pi. 74 ; Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. viii, pi. 554 ; 

 Lilford, ' Coloured Figures,' vol. v, pi. 39. 



Every autumn, during September and October, the 

 Purple Sandpiper migrates to our shores, many remaining 

 until the following spring. It is widely distributed, yet not 

 seen in flocks along our coast-lands, but that it is gregarious 

 is shown by the fact that great numbers assemble together 

 in other countries, for instance, in Norway (Collet). Unlike 

 most small wading-birds, this hardy species shows a marked 

 preference for rocky coasts, often wild and rugged (Plate 

 XXVIII.). Thus we find it common along the western 

 shores of Ireland, even in districts exposed to the full force 

 of the Atlantic gales, and, according to several observers, 

 this species is more often met with there than elsewhere 

 in the British Isles. Adult birds in nuptial plumage have 

 been observed, in the middle of June, in many of the Island- 

 Groups of Scotland (i.e., Outer Hebrides and Shetlands), 

 where they may possibly nest. 1 In Ireland, the Purple 

 Sandpiper remains until the end of May, and even into 

 June. Mr. Ussher mentions birds seen on May 30th, 

 which, on examination, proved to be in full nuptial 

 plumage, with reproductive organs in a ripe condition. I 

 have frequently seen this species in nuptial plumage on 



1 Specimens examined from Mingulay, in the Outer Hebrides, by 

 Mr. Harvie-Brown and Col. Feilden, were far advanced in nuptial garb, 

 and two showed bare hatching- spots on the feathers of the breast 

 (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist , 1902-3). 



