Species V. TRINGA PUSILLA. 



LITTLE SANDPIPER. 



[Plate XXXVII. Fig. 4.] 



Lath. Si/n. v., p. 184, 32. — Arct. Zool. ii., No. 397. — Cinclus dominicensis minor, 

 Briss. v., p. 222, 13, t. 25, f. 2.— Turt. Syst. 410. 



This is the least of its tribe in this part of the world, and in its 

 mode of flight has much more resemblance to the Snipe than to the 

 Sandpiper. It is migratory, departing early in October for the south. 

 It resides chiefly among the sea marshes, and feeds among the mud at 

 low water ; spi'ings with a zigzag irregular flight, and a feeble twit. It 

 is not altogether confined to the neighborhood of the sea, for I have 

 found several of them on the shores of the Schuylkill, in the month of 

 August. In October, immediately before they go away, they are 

 usually very fat. Their nests or particular breeding places I have not 

 been able to discover. 



This minute species is found in Europe, and also at Nootka Sound on 

 the western coast of America. Length five inches and a half; extent 

 eleven inches ; bill and legs brownish black ; upper part of the breast 

 gray brown, mixed with white ; back and upper parts black ; the whole 

 plumage above broadly edged with bright bay and yellow ochre ; prima- 

 ries black ; greater coverts the same, tipped with white ; eye small, 

 dark hazel ; tail rounded, the four exterior feathers on each side dull 

 white, the rest dark brown ; tertials as long as the primaries ; head 

 above dark brown with paler edges ; over the eye a streak of whitish ; 

 belly and vent white ; the bill is thick at the base, and very slender 

 towards the point ; the hind toe small. In some specimens the legs 

 were of a dirty yellowish color. Sides of the rump white ; just below 

 the greater coverts the primaries are crossed with white. 



Very little diflFerence could be perceived between the plumage of the 

 males and females. The bay on the edges of the back, and scapulars, 

 was rather brighter in the male, and the brown deeper. 



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