594 PURPLE SANDPIPER. 
unsuited to its habits, and it is rare or very local until Bering Strait 
is reached. American ornithologists consider that the birds found 
in that region—inclusive of Alaska—belong to a distinct species, 7. 
couesi, while a supposed third, Z. p#i/ocnemis, is almost restricted to 
the Pribilof Islands. The range in western Arctic America cannot, 
therefore, be defined with certainty, but our bird undoubtedly breeds 
in the north-eastern portion, migrating in winter to the Great Lakes 
and the Middle States, and, exceptionally, to the Bermudas. 
In the circumpolar regions nests are frequently placed close to 
the sea-shore; but in the Fzeroes they were found by Wolley—and after- 
wards by Col. Feilden—on the fells ; one being taken by the latter 
on May 20th, when deep snow was still lying in the sheltered spots 
and the tops of the hills were white. In Northern Iceland, also, 
the Rev. H. H. Slater shot a brooding female at nearly 1,600 ft. above 
sea-level. The nest is sometimes placed in a rather deep depression 
in the ground, and is composed of grass, with a lining of dead 
leaves ; the eggs, 4 in number, vary from pale green to olive or dull 
buff, with purplish under-shell markings and reddish-brown surface- 
blotches: measurements 1°45 by 1 in. Attendance on the brood 
and the larger share of the duties of incubation fall to the lot of 
the male. In summer the food consists chiefly of insects ; while in 
winter the bird may be seen on the rocks, regardless of the drench- 
ing spray, searching for small crustaceans and molluscs among the 
sea-weed. The Purple Sandpiper swims well and voluntarily ; while, 
owing to its tameness, few Sandpipers admit of closer observation. 
The note is a zeueet-zwzt. 
The adult in summer has the upper parts dark brownish-grey ; 
the feathers of the mantle nearly black, spotted with rufous and 
tipped with buffish-white; the 7th-gth secondaries chiefly white, 
and very conspicuous in flight ; rump, tail-coverts, and central tail- 
feathers sooty-brown, the remaining tail-feathers being ash-brown; 
throat, neck and breast greyish, obscured with dusky-brown streaks; 
belly whiter, and the flanks spotted with dark brown; legs and feet 
ochreous-yellow, the hind-toe directed inwards. Length 8°75 in. 
(bill 1°r), wing 5 in. ; females being rather larger than males. In 
the young bird the feathers of the mantle and breast have cres- 
centic white edges, which wear off later. In winter the dull upper 
plumage. has a purple gloss, and the breast is dark ash-brown with 
only faint striations or mottlings, while on the flanks the markings 
are bolder. The species may be easily recognized by its dark 
colour, short legs, and generally ‘dumpy’ appearance. 
