PUKPLE SANDPIPEK 307 



the Dublin coast as late as the middle of May. 1 When 

 traversing the seaweed-covered rocks at low water, small 

 parties of from three to five Purple Sandpipers may often 

 be met with. They are unsuspicious little birds, and will 

 admit of near approach and close inspection. When feed- 

 ing, they dart to and fro, foraging in the seaweeds. One 

 or two may disappear in a crevice ; others may be seen 

 running to the summit of a boulder with the nimbleness of 

 a rat. Their hunger being satisfied, they remain on the 

 rocks, enjoying the drenching spray as though it were but 

 a salt-water shower-bath. I have observed small parties of 

 Purple Sandpipers sticking to their slippery platform during 

 a severe gale, when the spitting foam of the angry breakers 

 fell all around. Indeed, these birds are often quite reluc- 

 tant to quit a favourite rock, and will return to it after 

 having been repeatedly frightened away. The late Mr. E. 

 Williams has noted that in rough weather they will huddle 

 close together on the top of a rock, where they will remain 

 quiet, almost motionless, for a very considerable time. 

 They frequently associate with Turnstones, less often with 

 Redshanks and Ringed Plovers. Even then they are none 

 the less confiding, and, at the approach of an intruder, 

 seldom accompany their more wary companions on the 

 wing. The Purple Sandpiper may exceptionally be met 

 with away from the tide. It is a good swimmer, and will 

 cross deep rock-pools of its own accord. However, it does 

 not appear to settle down on the open sea. 



Flight. The flight is much straighter than that of 

 other small shore-birds, and this species is generally to be 

 seen flying low and rapidly from rock to rock. 



Voice. The Purple Sandpiper is a comparatively silent 

 bird along our shores. It utters a feeble note which may 

 be syllabled weet-wit or tec-wit. 



Food. Small crabs and shell -fish, which are found 

 amidst seaweeds growing on rocks, also sand-hoppers, form 

 the diet, while in the nesting-season insects are mainly 

 eaten. I have frequently found coarse sand and pebbles, 

 the latter measuring 5 x 4 mm., in the gizzard. 



Nest. In the high Arctic regions, the Purple Sandpiper 

 has been observed nesting in the vicinity of the sea-coast, 



1 On May 13th, 1900, I saw four on the Dublin coast, in transition 

 plumage: one which I obtained showed on dissection that it was a 

 mature bird with large ova. 



