‘THE BIRDS OF DEVON.’ 27 
the first in 1869. The legs and toes were greenish yellow when the bird 
was first shot ; the irides were dark brown, and the bill nearly black ; 
it had been observed first upon the mud-flats on the 16th August. It 
was sent to us for determination, and proved in perfect condition, and in 
a darker plumage on the back and scapulars than Mr. Rickards’s specimen. 
Mr. Hawley reports that it uttered a note very like that of the Little 
Stint, only less loud. This little bird was exhibited at a meeting of the 
Linnean Society in 1893. (H. A. Evans, in litt.; and Zool. 1892, p. 411.) 
Purple Sandpiper (p. 337). 
Mr. EK. A. 8. Elliot writes :—‘‘ These birds return to us early in the 
fall and remain until late in May; just before they go north the edges 
of the feathers upon the back become rufous, as well as the top of the 
head, besides the pectoral band becomes distinctly blacker and more 
developed. In the Alaskan form, Zringa couesi, we simply have these 
features more developed. A specimen I obtained on Bolt Tail on May 
22nd, 1894, was a very large one, and weighed 4 oz.” Mr. G. F. Mathew 
wrote to us that he had supped off Purple Sandpipers on toast, and had 
found them ‘ decidedly fishy.” 
Ruff (p. 340). 
A young Reeve was shot at South Allington, September 10th, 1893 ; 
a Ruff on Torcross Ley, February 13th, 1895 (K. A. 8. E.). Two Reeves 
were shot August 1892 on the Northam Burrows (W. B. Hawley). One 
near Exmouth, September 22nd, 1893. 
Sanderling (p. 341). 
“T have a most beautiful series of these birds obtained here (Kings- 
bridge) in every month of the year, except March and June” (E. A.S8. E.). 
This bird should, perhaps, be removed from the list of ‘‘ Winter Visitors ” 
to that of “ Passing Visitors,” as it is principally met with in spring and 
autumn. It arrives in March or April, and again in August or September, 
sometimes, however, remaining throughout the winter. We have our- 
selves seen and shot Sanderlings in North Devon at Christmas. We 
omitted to mention that Mr. J. Gatcombe met with a large flock on 
Burrow Island in November 1876 (J. G., Zool. 1877, p. 45). Some 
occurred at Plymouth in the middle of May 1s77, in partial breeding 
plumage. 
Wood Sandpiper (p. 346). 
Our correspondent Mr. W. H. Salter, of Aberystwyth College, informs 
us that he was visiting Slapton Ley in July 1895, and while there saw 
and clearly identified a Wood Sandpiper on the 18th. 
