AMERICAN STINT. I35 



the rest of the under parts white. The quills are dusky, and a 

 white bar crosses the open wing. The bill and legs are black, 

 the irides very dark brown ; in Temminck's Stint the legs are 

 greener. In winter the general colour is ashy grey, the wings 

 and coverts much greyer than in summer. The young, usually 

 so tame in autumn as to allow close inspection, have darker 

 backs and mantles, patterned with buff and chestnut, and with 

 white on the wings and scapulars showing as irregular streaks. 

 The white forehead and stripe above the eye show up the grey 

 and reddish brown crown. The breast is tinged with buff, the 

 under parts white. Length, 6 ins. Wing, 3*5 ins. Tarsus, o'8 in. 



American Stint. Erolia miimtilla (Vieillot). 



Only four examples of the American Stint have been obtained 

 in England, all in Cornwall or Devon, on dates ranging from 

 1853 to 1892, in the months of August, September, and October. 

 The home of this species is Arctic America, and it normally 

 travels in autumn to South America, but is known on migration 

 in Greenland ; it is evident that these wanderers, and doubtless 

 others which escaped recognition, had taken a route more to 

 the east than usual, probably wind- drifted. 



The bird is a little smaller and much darker than the Little 

 Stint, but otherwise very similar in appearance and habits, and 

 its quick call-note recalls that of its congener. Its hind neck 

 is greyer, the brown spots are larger and better defined, and 

 the lower back and rump are black. The outer tail feathers 

 are light grey, intermediate between those of the Little and 

 Temminck's Stint. In the grey winter dress the rump is still 

 very dark, and young birds with almost unspotted, buff-tinged 

 breasts, have well-defined white edges to many of the feathers 

 of the upper parts. The bill is blackish brown, the legs olive, 

 the irides dark brown. Length, 5-25 ins. Wing, 3*5 ins. 

 Tarsus, 075 in. 



