338 THE BIRDS OF DEVON. 



in May (E. if., Mag. >'at. Hist. 1837). One there in November 18(il ; many in the 

 winter of 1865-6tj, Mr. Gatcombe meeting with several flocks on the Breakwater ; four 

 March 24th, 1865 ; two on the rocks at Longroom, November 2nd, 1871 ; three seen 

 on the rocks under Plymouth Hoe, December 2!k1, 1872 ; some seen February 25th, 

 1873; one .shot on the Breakwater, October 23rd, 1874 ; rather plentiful on the rocky 

 coast in 1875; one killed out of a small flock on the rocks of Drake's Island, March 

 3rd, 1882 (J. G., Zool. 18(i6, p. 97; 1872, p. 2984 ; 1873, p. 3443 ; 1874, p. 4253 ; 

 1875. p. 4719; 1876, p. 47b3 ; 1882, p. 451 ; • Field' for Nov. 25th, 1865 ; and M8. 

 Kotesj. Several were shot on Kingsbridge estuary, January 7th, 1867. Some are met 

 with every autumn about the rocks at Prawle, according tu Sir H. Hewett ; five shot 

 there in November 1886 (E. A. S. E., MS. Notes). Mr. Elliot has seen flocks as late 

 as !May outside Kingsbridge Harbour. 



Several were killed at Exmouth, November 22nd, 1866 (C. S., Zool. 1867, p. 562). 

 One shot on the Exe, October 27th, 187U. Some on Dawlish Warren, November 1872 

 ('Field' for Nov. 16th, 1872). One at Exmouth in the winter of 1887-88. There 

 were several specimens from the Exe in Mr. Byne's collection. 



The Purple Sandpiper is an occasional visitor to Lundy Island (Trans. Devon. 

 Assoc, viii. p. 309). 



On the Coruish coast it is common, Dr. Bullmore declaring that it is 

 the most numerous of all the Sandpipers in the neighbourhood of 

 Falmouth, and it is not rare on the Somerset and Dorset shores. This 

 species takes its name from its winter plumage of purplish grey, and when 

 the birds are living or have only been recently shot there is a pretty gloss 

 upon the feathers which quickly fades in stuffed specimens. In the 

 summer plumage the feathers on the back and scapulars are edged with 

 yellowi-sh rufous, and in this dress the birds are not often obtained in the 

 South of England, but we have seen one from Looe in the Truro Museum. 



The Purple Sandpiper may, perhaps, have nested occasionally on the 

 Fame Islands off the Xorthumberlaud coast, and on the Hebrides and 

 Shetland Islands ; but its summer home is much further to the north, in 

 Iceland, Greenland, &c., and it is also a common species in North 

 America. 



Knot. Tringa catiutits, Linn. 

 [Silver Plover, on the Exe.] 



A passing visitor in spring and autumn, most numerous at the latter 

 season, when flocks visit our estuaries from August to October, and 

 occasionally remain throughout the winter. 



This very interesting Sandpiper is chiefly seen on our Devonshire shores 

 as an autumn migrant, remaining a short time, and then leaving for the 

 south. It is rare to see one either in the rich red dress assumed in 

 spring or in the grey winter plumage in the south-western counties, 

 while along the eastern coast it is almost equally numerous both in 

 spring and autumn, remaining all the winter, with great reinforcements 

 to its numbers in severe weather. On the sands of the North Devon 

 estuaries the Knot usually arrives about 20th August, and by the end of 

 September it is useless to go in search of them, as by that time the flocks 

 will all have departed. When they first arrive the birds are singularly 



