Bird Notee from Long Island, N, Y. 
William Dutcher. 
# 
14. Tringa maritima. Purple Sandpiper.— This species was one of 
the desiderata of Hr. Giraud, who wrote of it as follows : “ This species I 
have never met with, and from my own observations of its habits and 
customs I know nothing. On the shore of Long Island it is exceedingly 
rare. Of all the transient visitors, there is no species for which I have 
made more diligent search than the Purple Sandpiper. At different 
seasons of the year, I have traversed the beaches and shoals on the south, 
and rambled over the rocky shores of the north side of the Island — but 
thus far it has eluded all my endeavors. Respecting it, I have had fre- 
quent conversations with the bay-men, without gathering any information, 
it being to those with whom I have conversed entirely unknown ; and 
were it not from having in my possession a specimen that was purchased 
in Fulton Market, and having seen two or three others that were procured 
through the same source — all of which, it is said, were shot on the eastern 
end of the Island — I would not feel at liberty to include it in our local 
Fauna.” * 
It is very probable that this Sandpiper is only found, now, as when 
Mr. Giraud wrote of it, on the eastern portion of the Island, and perhaps 
on the north side, where it can find the rocky shores so necessary to its 
existence. Mr. Newbold T. Lawrencef and Mr. Robert B. Lawrence,! 
both well known in connection with Long Island birds, have each recorded 
one specimen from the Island. It is further probable that it is not only 
a regular winter visitant, but that it is not uncommon in suitable localities 
on Long Island. Its being found only on rocky shores and during the 
winter months, accounts largely for its being overlooked. The bleakness 
and desolation of winter along the seashore deters sportsmen from fre- 
quenting it even at the most favorable times, but when there is added the 
snow and sleet of a northeast gale none but the hardy members of the 
Life Saving Crews, those noblemen who ever stand ready to risk their 
own lives to save those of storm-tossed and surf-beaten mariners, and the 
isolated few who devote their lives to solitude and loneliness in the light- 
house towers, that stand as beacons to warn the sailor where danger lurks, 
ever have the opportunity of observing this boreal Sandpiper in its chosen 
surroundings. At the entrance to Long Island Sound lies a small rocky 
island, known as Little Gull, on which is erected a lighthouse that by 
day and night serves as a guide from the stormy waters of the Atlantic to 
the land-locked Long Island Sound. The keeper of this light, Mr. H. P. 
Field, has given me many valuable notes, and some specimens, of the 
birds of his vicinity. His means of communication with the mails are 
by sailing a long distance to the nearest port on Long Island, or else to 
put off in a small boat and hail some inward bound vessel and get the 
master to forward his notes or specimens. Communication is therefore 
so infrequent that I supply him with small blank books in which he makes 
almost daily records of the birds noted ; also the weather and temperature. 
These books are sent to me January and July first. In the report for the 
first half of 1886, Mr. Field noted, January 23 : “Observed some small Snipe 
feeding on the rocks, — temp. 20 0 .” The next day he notes : “ The little 
Snipe still here, while it is snowing hard, — temp. 8°.” Nonq were seen 
again until January 30, when he writes : “One little Snipe made its appear- 
ance again to-day, — temp. 32 0 .” February 1, another one joined the 
solitary individual noted January 30. This pair remainded until the 10th 
of February, “feeding on the rocks,” although the temperature on the 4th 
was — 2 0 . On the 17th they returned, remaining one day and then dis- 
appeared until February 23. They again wandered off, returning March 3, 
and remaining three days. None were seen again until March 25, when 
one returned to say to Mr. Field that the temperature of 38° was entirely 
too tropical, and that he wished to say for himself and his mates, farewell, 
as they were about to start fora more frigid clime. The journey evidently 
was commenced, as none were again seen. 
Mr. A. H. Helme, while at Montauk Point in December, 1886, saw three 
individuals of this species and secured two of them, a male and female. 
The first one secured was shot about two miles west of the Point, and the 
second was killed near Fort Pond, about four miles from the Point. Feb- 
ruary 10, 1887, a flock of three made their appearance at Little Gull Island, 
and Mr. Field secured them all and sent them to me in the flesh. No 
others visited either Little Gull Island or Montauk Point, during the 
winter of 1886-87. November 1, 1887, a solitary individual was shot at 
Montauk Point, by Capt. Scott, who sent it to me, together with a Sander- 
ling {Calidris arenaria), which was shot from a flock of twenty at the 
same place and«on the same day. 
* Birds of Long Island, pp. 236, 237. j 
fForest and Stream, Vol. X, p. 235. V, April, 1888 . P. 17 ^~ 
t Ibid., Vol. XXVII, p. 428. 
