76 



8 



ceous ; the markings are large, numerous, and bold, of rich umber-brown of different depths or 

 intensities, occurring all over the surface, though most numerous and largest, as a rule, on the 

 major half of the egg. With these heavy surface-markings are found also various short spots of 

 pale purplish grey or light neutral tint." Captain Feilden, who found this bird breeding in the 

 Faeroes, says : — " Pairs of these interesting birds are to be found breeding throughout the islands ; 

 but they appear to be most abundant on Sandoe, whence I received most of the eggs I procured. 

 I only found one nest myself; and that was on the 20th of May, when walking over the fells 

 between Thorshavn and Nordedahl. I almost placed my foot on the hen bird, which then 

 fluttered off the nest, pretending to be broken-legged and winged ; indeed the poor thing employed 

 every artifice to draw our attention from her eggs : she succeeded in deceiving our guide, who 

 ran after her and tried to catch her. I stopped the chase, which would otherwise have proved 

 a long one, by shooting the bird. Returning to the nest I found four eggs lying in a little 

 hollow scooped out of the scanty moss which clothed this alpine region ; a few dried sprigs of 

 moss composed the lining of the nest. The fells on this date were deep with snow in the 

 sheltered spots, and the tops of the hills were white. The Purple Sandpiper was frequently 

 seen by us along the shore, sometimes singly, often in company with others of its species, as well 

 as with Dunlins and Turnstones, feeding at low tide on the small shells and animalcula left on 

 the sea-weed. It is remarkably tame, and will allow a person to approach it within a few feet. 

 Wolley remarks, ' We found it breeding on the summits of the mountains in small numbers : 

 young just fledged at the end of June.' " When the young are hatched they are most carefully 

 tended by their parents, who show the greatest solicitude for their safety ; and should a stranger 

 approach they use their utmost exertion to lure him away, or fly close round him, exhibiting the 

 greatest anxiety. When wounded, this Sandpiper will take to the water ; and as they swim and 

 dive well, it is not easy to secure it, as I have often found when trying to retrieve a wounded 

 bird without a dog. 



The specimens figured are, in the foreground, the adult male, in full summer dress, from 

 Greenland, and, in the background, an adult winter-killed specimen from New Brunswick. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, ad. Copenhagen, June 7th, 1866 (Benzon). b, 8 ad. Greenland, June (Ei-ichsen). c, adult. Greenland 

 (Erichsen). d. Greenland, winter plumage, e. Lichtenfels, S. Greenland, June 10th, 1874 (Dr. Finsch) . 

 f, g, ad. Mace's Bay, New Brunswick, 1860 (H. E. D.). h, §. Dipper-Harbour Ledges, New Bruns- 

 wick, December 31st, 1861 (H.E.D.). i, pull. Itodlek, Greenland [Benzon). k,pull. Fseroes (H. C. 

 Muller) . I, pull. Magero, Norway, June 26th, 1872 (R. Collett) . . 



E Mus. Salvin and Godman. 



a, 3. Bodo, Norway, May 18th, 1857. b, ? . Bodo, May 4th, 1857. c, ? . Bodo, May 1857. d, 6- Flores, 

 Azores, May 19th, 1865 (F. D. Godman) . 



