MEMORANDA ON THE PURPLE SANDPIPER. 39
geographical range of Tringa maritima. Summarized, the said
species has well nigh circumpolar, summer breeding quarters.
In Europe a section of them winter on the Norwegian seaboard.
Other companies, with contingents from Greenland and Siberian
haunts, migrate in autumn further afield, and converge in the
direction of the British Isles; thence directing their course
southerly by Atlantic maritime to N.W. Africa. On the way,
the North Sea is crossed at various places, and again re-crossed
on their north-easterly return journey in spring. Chiefly during
October and November the east coast counties from Yorks, to
Kent receive sparse visits almost simultaneously.
According to the "Digest of Observations on Migration of
Birds,"23 superadded to by Eagle Clarke, 24 the area facing the
Thames mouth is a most important centre of flight routes.
Thereabouts birds meet, coming and going in contrary directions
all round the compass. These birds of passage, emigrants and
immigrants alike, of varied orders and families, steadily pursue
their path, irrespective of their clamouring friends' call (come
with us), going a contrary direction,
With regard more definitely to T, maritima, as Essex is
situate en route to the English Channel, over which they must
pass, it is natural to suppose that our county's indented sea-
margin and offshore elongated sand-banks have oftener received
transitory visits than hitherto recounted.
Besides, it has to be taken into consideration how feebly
gregarious they are when traversing the beaches, marshes, etc.,
and thus readily escape observation. In this respect a marked
contrast to some migratory avine genera (skylark and starling,
for example) whose numbers in company are truly marvellous.
Notwithstanding the 100,000 records furnished to the Brit.
Assoc. Committee (loc. cit.), the assiduity in watch of Cordeaux,
Harvey-Brown, Eagle Clarke, Barrington, and a host of others,
there yet remain desiderata respecting the species under con-
sideration within the Essex Field Club's sphere. More informa-
tion is wanted, e.g. (1) On the movements and track of Purple
Sandpiper as they traverse the East Coast seaboard; (2) From
what supposed direction do they mostly reach Essex ; (3)
Possible line or lines of subsequent departure; (4) Are all mere
23 Brit. Assoc. Comm. Final Report, Liverpool Meeting, 1896, p. 451-479.
24 Results Observ, at Kentish Knock Lightship, 1905, in Ibis, Jan., 1904, p. 112.