80 



SCOLOPACIDE. 



GRALLATORES. SCOLOPACIDM. 



PLATE CC. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



TRINGA MARITIMA. 



The Purple Sandpiper is frequently found on the shores 

 of Great Britain, during the winter months, in localities 

 that suit its habits. Its geographical distribution extends 

 over most northern countries, such as the Hudson's Bay, 

 Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands. The 

 present species is more a northern and north-western bird 

 than a north-eastern one, and is found to extend its sum- 

 mer migration to higher northern latitudes than any others 

 of its family. During the periods of migration the Pur- 

 ple Sandpiper is very frequently found on some parts of 

 the Mediterranean, and particularly on the coast of Genoa, 

 but about inland seas and rivers it is an exceedingly rare 

 occurrence to see one at any time of the year. 



The locality preferred by the Purple Sandpiper is a 

 rocky sea-coast, but the bird is occasionally known to pass 

 the winter in considerable numbers on the southern coasts 

 of England and Holland. 



About the middle of the month of April the Purple 

 Sandpipers migrate northward to breed, and return again 

 about September in flocks of thirty or more. It is very 

 remarkable that the bird in question should shew exclu- 



