39 



THE PURRE. 

 THIJVGA CIJVCLUS, 

 [Plate LVII.— Fig. 3.] 



Linn* SysU 251 JlrcL Zool. p. 475, JVo. 390.— .Bewick, II, p. llB.—UJilouette de mer, Bufi\ VII> 



54)8.— Peaie's Museum, JVo. 4126. 



THIS is one of the most numerous of our Strand birds^ as 

 they are usually called, that frequent the sandy beach, on the fron- 

 tiers of the ocean. In its habit it differs so little from the pre- 

 ceding, that, except in being still more active and expert in run- 

 ning and searching among the sand, on the reflux of the waves, as 

 it nimbly darts about for food, what has been said of the former 

 will apply equally to both, they being pretty constant associates 

 on these occasions. 



The Purre continues longer with us both in spring and au- 

 tumn than either of the two preceding ; many of them remain du* 

 ring the very severest of the winter, tho the greater part retire to 

 the more genial regions of the south; where I have seen them at 

 such seasons, particularly on the sea coasts of both Carolinas, du- 

 ring the month of February, in great numbers. 



These birds, in conjunction with several others, sometimes 

 collect together in such flocks, as to seem, at a distance, a large 

 cloud of thick smoke, varying in form and appearance every in- 

 stant, while it performs its evolutions in air. As this cloud de- 

 scends and courses along the shores of the ocean, with great rapi- 

 dity, in a kind of waving serpentine flight, alternately throwing 

 its dark and white plumage to the eye, it forms a very grand and 

 * interesting appearance. At such times the gunners make prodi- 

 gious slaughter among them; while, as the showers of their com- 



