THE PURRE. 
69 
'te, l)arred and spotted with blact and pale ferrn- 
^ ons ; tail-coverts, white, elegantly barred with black ; 
dusky, black towards the extremity ; the 
tnar' ^'J^wts, tipt with white ; shafts of the pri- 
tvhh**’ ashy olive, finely edged with 
jj II > *'^1® two middle feathers somewhat the longest; 
y and vent, white, the latter marked with small 
of black ; legs and feet, black ; toes, 
**lack^**^ with a narrow membrane ; eye, small and 
red** ®®®® specimens, both of males and females, the 
^ on the breast was much paler, in others it descended 
as the thighs. Both sexes seemed nearly alike. 
221 . TSINGA CUfCLUS. — TIIE PUKRE. 
"’irc.sv, 
PLATE LVir. FIG. III. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
as th*** most numerous of our strand birds. 
On H ^ ® usually called, that frequent the sandy beach 
So I'hI frontiers of the ocean. In its habits it differs 
Oioi- Irom the preceding, that, except in being still 
tile * **®*'*''® and expert in running and searching among 
abo reflux of the waves, as it nimbly darts 
a|w[* food, Avhat has been said of the former will 
assn • fo both, they being pretty constant 
rp^’^tes on these occasions. 
aj,^ ptirro continues longer with ns, both in spring 
®^otumn, than either the turnstone or the ash- 
Verv sandpiper ; many of them remain dui'iug the 
retir ®®'^®''®*f of the winter, though the greater part 
I fhe more gonial regions of the south, where 
Sea them at such seasons, particularly on the 
Carolinas, during the month of 
p.^ary, in great numbers. 
sonip'p** birds, in conjunction with several others, 
at a ]•***'’*’ collect together in snih flocks, as to seem, 
fn ^‘"*fa"ce> a large cloud of thick smoke, varying in 
its "* 1“'^- appearance every instant, while it performs 
evolutions in air. As this cloud descends and courses 
