THE PURRE. 
TRINGJl JlLFLYJl. 
[Plate EVIL— Fig*. 3.] 
Linn. Syst. 251. — Arcf, Zool. p. 475, jYo. 390. — Bewick, II,/). 115. — VAlonette de mer. 
Buff. VII, 548. — Tringa cinclus, Ind. Orn. 735, jVo. 35; T. rujicollis, iOidy Ab. 36. — 
Briss. 5, p, 211, pL 19, fg, 1 . — Temm. Man. d'Orn. p, 612, 
THIS is one of the most numerous of our Strand-hirds, as 
they are usually eallecl, that frequent the sandy beach, on the fron- 
tiers of the ocean. In its habits 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 foi mei 
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 
during the severest of the winter, tho the greater pai-t retire to 
the more genial regions of the south ; where I have seen tliem at 
such seasons, particularly on the seacoasts of both CaroUnas, dui- 
ing 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, willi great ra- 
pidity, 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- 
