PURPLE SANDPIPER 
TRINGJ MAIUTIMA. 
HE urple Sandpiper is one of the most confiding of the feathered trihe ; such slight regard do they pay at 
times to a near approach that, feeding quietly in some dark pool or crevice among the rocks, their presence 
might easily he overlooked. More fearless even than the Dunlin, a charge of shot through their ranks does 
not appear to instil the accustomed dread of their natural enemy, usually so soon acquired. 
In May 1805, I found a large flock of some hundreds in tlie finest stage of summer plumage resorting to 
le range of rocks on which the beacon stands below Seacliff, on the coast-line of the Eirth of Forth between 
Can y Day and Dunliar. The conspicuous red-brown tint on their backs *, shown off to the fullest advanta^^e 
by the bright sunlight, at once attracted my attention, and imagining, from what I had previously learned 
concerning tlie species, that their presence at this season was unusual, no time was lost in procuring specimens, 
n such dense and compact order did the whole mass wheel round when driven up, that the single shot fired 
proved far more destructive than I anticipated. Not more than a couple of minutes had passed before they were 
back almost on the same spot, running, apparently unconcerned, within the distance of a few yards while the 
victims that had fallen were still being collected. This was the only occasion in spring on which these 
unsuspecting birds were molested, though several parties were met with here and there along the Icd-es of rock 
as far as I followed the coast-line towards the east. The numbers decreased early in June; a however 
remained till the following month and, indeed, all through the summer ; these were, for the most part, in worn 
and dingy plumage, and usually in company with Turnstones. As far south as the Fern Islands, and on many 
of the straggling rocks composing that dangerous group, I frequently recognized the two species durino- May 
and June. In no instance could I learn, from personal observation or any trustwortliy source, that they 
remained and bred on our shores. I am aware that eggs strongly resembling those of the Purple Sandpiper 
are reported to have been procured at various points round the British coasts ; but in no single instance have 
they been taken and the birds identified by a competent judge. I have noticed small parties in May on the 
bw reefs of rock that fringe the shell-strewn beach f in some of the hays and creeks between Thurso and 
Duncan%IIead and round towards the south; these all exhibited the full summer dress, and were, in all 
probability, on their way towards the north, as, with few exceptions, they had departed by the followin^^ 
month. Among the rocky islets off the west coast of Ross-shire, and also in the Outer Hebrides, a few small 
parties were met with early in May every season I visited the district. 
Though both old and young m mixed and variegated stages of plumage may be observed along the east 
coast of Scotland so early as the beginning of September, it is not till a month or six weeks latei” that any 
number are usually found along the shores of the eastern and southern counties of England. 
* This bronze tint on tho back disappears soon after death. No coloured plate I have seen gives the faintest idea of the living bird, 
t To the casual observer tho shore along the coast, particularly near Uuna (the spot where the traditional John o’ Groat’s house was supposed 
to stand), would present tho appearance of a fine white sand. If closely examined it will be found to consist entirely of particles of broken shells 
