386 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



Heysham's presentiment as to the ultimate detection of the 

 Curlew Sandpiper was justified by the fact that Dr. Gough 

 ultimately presented an immature bird to the Kendal Museum, 

 this having been shot on the marsh near Arnside, August 24th, 

 1868. The species has since been obtained in the same locality. 

 Mr. C. A. Hammond informs me that he met with a considerable 

 flock of Curlew Sandpipers at Arnside in September 1876, and 

 shot seven of the number. The late James Cooper shot a 

 couple of Curlew Sandpipers on Rockliffe marsh in the month 

 of May, one of which Heysham says that he lent to Gould, to be 

 figured in the Birds of Europe. The Pigmy Curlew so rarely 

 visits us in the spring of the year that it is practically unknown 

 on our marshes in the red dress. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



Tringa striata, L. 



A few Purple Sandpipers occasionally appear on our estuaries 

 in late autumn, frequenting the large stones which lie at the 

 mouths of becks, obtaining much of their food on the sand like 

 other Tringae. The species has never been shot on our salt 

 marshes ; indeed, it occurs more frequently near St. Bees than 

 anywhere else on our coast, which is, at the best, indifferently 

 adapted to suit its tastes, there being few, if any, reefs of rock 

 covered with tangles such as this Sandpiper habitually chooses 

 for its haunts. I have seen it on the west side of Walney 

 Island, and there Mr. Durnford also obtained specimens. All 

 the local examples but one that have come under my notice 

 were killed in winter plumage. The exception is a young bird 

 killed a few years ago near St. Bees. This is in nest dress, showing 

 that it was either an early immigrant or belonged to a late 

 brood. I have never observed this Sandpiper to associate with 

 any other species of Limicolse. 



