A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK plumage when shot, and on the wing the white rump is conspicuous. 221. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, hinn. An autumn and winter visitant and one of the tamest of the waders on its first arrival. Like the grey phalarope it misses the east coast on its homeward journey in spring and is unknown here in breeding plumage. 222. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. Locally, Silver Plover in winter. The migrations of the knot are much like those of the curlew-sandpiper but it appears in autumn and winter in much larger flocks, and some remain throughout the winter. Its remarkably extensive geographical range has been carefully worked out by Mr. Saunders {Manual, p. 596), but no eggs have ever been found. From the vast numbers of birds which come to England in autumn and winter the nests must abound in some yet undiscovered breeding-place. 223. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.) A spring and autumn migrant of which a few remain through the winter. Though the plumage varies a great deal according to age and season it can be always known by the absence of a hind-toe. 224. RuflF. Machetes pugnax (Linn.) The rufF bred in Norfolk till late in the ' eighties ' and there can be no reasonable doubt that it bred in Suffolk in earlier times in more than one locality, although no record of its having done so exists. Young birds are not at all uncommon in autumn, and in July, 1872, an adult male was shot near Aldeburgh showing traces of a recently-shed white ruff (Ipswich Museum). 225. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tringites ru- fescens (Vieillot) A very rare North American species of which three specimens have been shot on Breydon, the last in 1 843. All three occur- rences were in autumn. 226. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.) Locally, Summer Snipe. This species is not at all uncommon as a spring and autumn visitant, frequenting tidal rivers and dykes in the marshes. Its nest and eggs have once been found in Norfolk, but there is at present no certain proof of its having bred in this county. 227. American Spotted Sandpiper. Totanus macularius (Linn.) A specimen of this American sasdpiper was shot near Mildenhall early in 1869 [Zoologist, 1871, p. 2684) and stuffed by Mr. Bilson of Bury. Dr. Babington when en- gaged on his book was unable to trace it and seemed somewhat doubtful about it, but adds in his appendix [Catalogue, p. 276) : 'I now believe that there was no reason to question the Mildenhall example.' 228. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin) A spring and autumn migrant which has often been obtained in the eastern part of the county especially in the Aldeburgh meres. On 14 June, 1889, a flock of five was seen in the mere adjoining the North Field [Zoolo- gist, 1889, p. 313). 229. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.) Some birds of this species remain through the winter, and Dr. Babington [Catalogue, p. 132) had records for all months but February, March and November. It is a striking bird on the wing, looking as black and white as an oyster-catcher when flying low over the water, and the very loud shrill note it utters when alarmed is certain to attract attention, and it is a less sociable bird than the wood-sandpiper, being usually met with singly or in pairs. The eggs have never been found in the British Islands, though it is quite possible it may have bred, as its habit of laying in old nests of other birds built in trees was un- known till about fifty years ago. Should the eggs ever be found in England the discovery will probably be made in one of the counties bounded on the east by the North Sea. 230. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.) Locally, Tu-tu (Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain). A resident breeding in marshes near the coast and also in several localities in west Suffolk, but the autumn and winter migrants far exceed in number the resident birds. In its nesting-grounds it is an attractive bird with bold dashing flight and loud mellow whistle, and though the anxiety of the parents may plainly indicate that the eggs are near they are difficult to find, being usually well concealed in a tuft of grass and the hen does not sit very closely. The eggs are often sold as ' plovers' eggs ' but are rather smaller and lighter in colour. 231. Spotted Redshank. Totanus ^scus (Linn.) An uncommon visitant at any time, and in the black summer dress is quite a rarity. One in this plumage was shot at Stanningfield in May, 1871, and preserved by Mr. Bilson. 208
