THE PURPLE SANDPIPER 1638 
loral patch dark brown. Scapulars and tertia- 
ries dark brown and black with buff or whitish 
edges. Wing coverts light grayish brown with 
lighter, even whitish, edges to the feathers. 
Primaries dark brown. Rump and tail coverts 
brownish black. Tail with dark brown central 
feathers, growing lighter toward the sides, outer 
pair margined with white. Feet and legs dull 
olive. In length from eight to nine and one- 
half inches, and ranging from fifteen to seven- 
teen in extent. An overgrown least sandpiper 
in appearance. 
THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. ‘‘ROCK- 
WEED BIRD.”’ 
(Arquatella maritima.) 
With the winter comes the Purple Sandpiper 
out of the north, seeking warm weather in Jan- 
uary and February on the New England coast! 
But then, he has his own ideas as to climate. 
This is a dweller on the sea ledges, truly 
named the ‘‘Rockweed Bird,’’ for on the brown 
and slippery masses of seaweed on the deep- 
water ledges he finds the snails and marine 
creatures which furnish his table. Only on the 
