220 



PR.ECOCIAL GKALLATOHES — LIMICOLyE. 



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Mr. Godiuah nu't with this spi-cics on th(^ Azores. A small tlock was usually to 

 bo socn in company with some Turnstones about the roeks near Santa Cruz, in Klores. 

 Ho was told that in sun)UU'r they were l're(]ueutly noti(a'(l upon tiio rough [)asture- 

 land, and high up in the juountains. It was the common opinion that thoy go there 

 only to food. ^[r. Godman had no doubt that they also breed there, as he procured 

 in Juno a male in full summer or breeding i»lumage ; but his o])inions uuist bo 

 regarded as problematical. 



In (Jroat ISritain, according to Yarrell, the; I'urple Sandpiper, though well known, 

 is not very numerous. It is i'oinid on various i)arts yf tiie coast, preCerring the 

 rocky portions, where it is seen from Sejitember, thioughout the winter, until April 

 or May. That some which leave do not go far, and that a few remain and breed, is 

 regarded as certain. Some are absent a very short time, young ones returning with 

 them ; and on one occasion, on the Fame Islands, Mr. Selby met with a family of this 

 species, the young of which were scarcely able to fly. It is commonly only a winter 

 visitant, and may 1)0 seen busily turning over the stones, or searching among the 

 seaweed for the smaller shrimjis and sand-liopjiers. It also feeds on small crabs, 

 marine insects, and the soft IkhUos of the smaller shelltish. Mr. Dunn states that 

 it is very numerous in Shetland and the Orkneys in the early spring, collecting there 

 in large flocks. It may be foun;l on the rocks at I'bb-tide, watching each retiring 

 wave, running down as the water falls luick, picking small shelltish off the stones, 

 and displaying great activity in escaping from the advancing sea. None remain 

 there to breed. 



It is said by Wheelwright to breed only in tlie far north, and never to be seen in 

 Scandinavia except in the autumn, or occasionally in tlu' winter. Sommerfeldt states 

 that it is very common dni'ing the summer on the north coast of West Finland. Mr, 

 AVheelwright had received specimens from Iceland and Greenland, but never from 

 Lapland. The ^Messrs. Godman found it on the isUunls near liodiie, in Norway, 

 throughout the summer. The first speeiuu-n was obtained May 4. It is occasional 

 in Switzerland and in Italy; and ^Ir. H. Saunders found it abundant during the 

 winter in Southern Spain. 



Mr. lioardman iid'orms me that it is (juite (tonimon near Galais, Me., in the winter, 

 where it is known as the " Winter Snipe." It is also very abundant about the rocky 

 shores of Grand jNIenan. It is very irregular in its ap])earance on the eastern coast 

 of Massachusetts, where in some winters it appears in great numbers, and then again 

 is rarely seen for several years. j\lr. Giraiul never nu^t with this species, and regarded 

 it as an exceedingly rare bird on the shores of Long Island ; occasionally, however, 

 specimens are seen in the New York nuirket which have been taken on the eastern 

 end of that island. 



Mr. Kumlien mentions this Wader as the flrst to arrive at Cumberland, and the 

 last to leave in autumn, coming by the 1st of June, the earliest moment at whicli 

 thoy could have found any rocks l)are at low-tide. Their arrival took place during 

 a severe snow-storm, and the birds huddled together under the ledges like a flock of 

 Quails in wintei*. Thoy remained until November, as late as they could And any 

 exposed shore, and were very connnon. Sonui are said to remain in the flords of 

 South Greenland all winter. 



They are devoid of fear, and can almost be caught with the hand. They nest on 

 the borders of fresh-water lakes, and at this time nearly desert the sea-shore. When 

 in large flocks they keep up a lively and very pleasant twJtter. During the breeding- 

 season the males have a peculiar cry, somewhat resembling that of Bartram's Tattler, 

 but lower, and not so prolonged. When the male utters this note it assumes a digni- 



