BRITISH BIRDS 



THE CURLEW-SANDPIPER. 

 Tringa subarquata (Guldenstadt). 

 Plate 66. 



This wader visits our shores on passage in autumn and spring, showing a 

 preference for those of the eastern and southern counties of England and east coast 

 of Scotland. Though seldom seen on the western side of Great Britain, in autumn 

 it is found in favourable localities in Ireland, where it has been known to linger till 

 December. It breeds on the tundras of Northern Siberia, and migrates southward 

 in winter to Africa, Southern Asia, and Australia. 



The nest of the Curlew-Sandpiper appears to have been unknown to zoologists 

 till Mr. H. L. Popham described one containing four eggs, which he discovered in 

 July 1897 at the mouth of the river Yenesei in Siberia. This nest was a somewhat 

 deep hollow in the moss, and the eggs, though smaller, were very like those of the 

 Snipe (see Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 1897, p. 490). 



While tarrying with us, this Sandpiper often associates with others of its kind, 

 and in its actions is very like the Dunlin, tripping hither and thither and dabbling 

 with its curved bill on the sand and mud in search of its food, which does not differ 

 from that of its allies. 



The deep russet of its summer dress is very striking, but in winter this colour 

 changes to a sober grey, streaked with darker tones. 



The second figure in the plate represents a young bird in autumn. 



THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 



Tringa striata, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 66. 



The Purple Sandpiper is a fairly common winter visitant to the rocky parts of 

 our coasts, arriving in autumn and departing in spring. Its nest has never been 

 discovered in the British Islands, though Lord Lilford and others had a suspicion 

 that it might be found breeding in some localities. 



In summer it inhabits the Faeroes, Iceland, Northern Europe, Asia, and Arctic 

 America, and leaves the colder portion of its territory in winter, when it ranges to 

 the Mediterranean and in the American continent as far south as Florida. 



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