134 THE OENITHOLOGIST. 



THE PUKPLE SANDPIPER. 

 By Edmund A. S. Elliot, M.B.O.U. 



Eeom November to the end of May, by which tinie they 

 have assumed their nuptial garb, these birds are tolerably 

 common along the coast of the south-west peninsula, seldom 

 entering our estuaries, except accidentally in company with 

 Dunlin, &c. 



To watch this active little fellow seeking its food amongst 

 the rocks, with the waves constantly dashing over him, is quite 

 interesting; running along, in and out, over the slippery weed, 

 ever and again crouching in the inequalities of the rock as 

 a wave higher than usual dashes over him, and if by chance he 

 should be washed off, creeping up again like a mouse as he is 

 brought back on the succeeding billow, makes this confiding 

 wader an especial favourite. Like all other birds whose food 

 depends on the ebb and flow of the tide he seems more busy 

 when the waters are rising — warned, no doubt by experience, 

 that he will have to wait some hours ere he will feed again. 

 As the weed-encumbered rocks cover, the various groups of 

 three and four flock together and wing their way to their 

 resting site, some exposed and bare stretches of rock out of 

 reach of the foaming breaker or angry billow ; and here also 

 they may be approached quite closely, and seen with their 

 heads tucked away over their backs, quietly resting till the 

 restless wave has receded from their favourite feeding-ground. 



During the autumn months (I have obtained specimens as 

 early as August) they are continuously winging their way 

 down from their breeding grounds, and by November are 

 found in small flocks all around the coast, their favourite 

 haunts being where long low stretches of rocks are left 

 uncovered for some hours by the tide. Their sombre grey 

 dress, redeemed from tameness by the beautiful shot-like 

 purplish reflections over the back requires little comment, but 

 as winter passes and spring advances the stages of moult 

 towards the nuptial dress are particularly interesting to watch. 

 Early in April new feathers, black, edged and barred with 

 white, peep out from the smoke grey gorget and along the 



