BIRD-LIFE ALONG THE SHORE. 191 



formerly. A little later in the year small flocks 

 of Purple Sandpipers visit the rocky shores of Tor 

 Bay. We generally find them on the coast between 

 Paignton and Churston (Broad Sands and Good- 

 rington), where the beach is rocky. A favourite 

 spot for this Sandpiper, and where we have 

 repeatedly shot it, is where a small stream flows 

 over a pebbly bit of beach into the sea at Broad 

 Sands. Some seasons the birds are only seen in 

 pairs, and we take this as an indication that the 

 broods have been destroyed or that the nests were 

 unfortunate. The Purple Sandpiper seeks most of 

 its food amongst the weed-draped rocks and stones ; 

 it is perhaps the most marine and aquatic of its 

 family, not only swimming freely, but alighting on 

 the sea when flushed. It is not by any means a 

 shy bird while with us, and we usually flush it 

 almost from our feet before being aware of its 

 presence. The dark plumage and white patches 

 in the wings render this species easy of identifica- 

 tion as it rises from the rocks. Another frequenter 

 of the rocky beaches during autumn is the Turn- 

 stone. We had an example of this bird shot near 

 Hope's Nose in Tor Bay in autumn which still 

 retained its full breeding plumage. We most 



