THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 505 



295. — Little Stint [Kleiner Strandlaufek]. 

 TRINGA MINUTA, Lcisler. 



Heliijolandisli : Liitj ?itenmck = Small Sand2)i))cr. 

 Triiujii minuta. Naiimanii, vii. 391. 



Liltle Stint. Dresser, viii. 29. 



ilccassemc echasscs. Tcmminck, Manuel, ii. 624, iv. 407. 



'I'll is pretty little species is of very rare occurrence on llic 

 island during the spring passage, and in the course of fifty years 1 

 have only succeeded in obtaining one in(hvidual in May in breeding 

 plumage. Young birds of the year in autinnn plumage, on the 

 other hand, arc quite common here from August to the middle of 

 September, frequenting the shore of the dune in company with 

 large numbers of young Dunlins. 



We have in this way a further proof that species from far-ofl' 

 castei'n and north-eastern districts do not return to their homes 

 in spring by the same circuitous routes, which they adopted on their 

 autunm passage; but set out on their homeward flight in a 

 straight and direct course from their winter quarters in Africa and 

 Spain, leaving the points touched on during the autumn migration 

 far to their left. 



The breeding stations of the species extend over the Tundras 

 and littoral regions of northern Asia and the islands lying off its coast. 

 It is nearly fifty years ago that Von Middendorff found it nestmg on 

 the Taimyr Peninsula, and in LS86 Dr. Bunge found large mnnbers 

 of what appeared to be the eggs and young of this species on the 

 islands of New Siberia. In the west, its breeding range extends to 

 northern Eiu-opean Russia, where Seebohm, in 1S75, secui'ed a rich 

 spoil of eggs and nestlings on the estuaries of the Petchora. 



A few scattered nests have been found by Collett since 1880 on 

 I'orsanger Fjord near the North Cape. The bird has also been 

 met with during the summer months on Nova Zembla, and 

 probably breeds on that island. 



296.— Temminck's Stint [Temminck's Strandlaufek]. 



TRINGA TEMMINCKII, Leisler. 



Heligolandish : Liitj giii Stennick = jS?)H(?i Grey Sandpiper. 



Tringa Temminckii. Namiiann, vii. 483. 



Temminck's Stint. Dresser, viii. 45. 



Becasseau Temmia. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 622, iv. 405. 



This little bird is, like the preceding species, a very rare spring 

 visitor to this island, though it occurs somewhat more frequently 



