244 Nichols and Harper, Lo7ig Island Shore Birds. [jjjy 



Its flight is much hke that of the Least Sandpiper; at times flocks pass 

 by in a direct and unhurried manner, but we have noticed single birds 

 whose flight was swift and darting. 



The baymen and gunners do not usually distinguish it from the other 

 Oxeyes, but we have occasionally heard it spoken of as Big Oxeye. It can 

 be readily identified in the field by its slightly larger size and by its white 

 upper tail-coverts, which show conspicuously in flight. On the ground 

 the bird stands low, and is very concealingly colored, like the Krieker, 

 which it resembles also in build. Perhaps as diagnostic as any other 

 characteristic is its note; this is an exceedingly sharp and squeaky, mouse- 

 like jeet, which the bird utters on the wing, and which, when once learned, 

 is unmistakable. 



Pisobia minutilla. Least Sandpiper; Oxeye; Little Oxeye. — 

 Abundant spring and fall migrant. It is present usually throughout May 

 and from abawt July 8 to September 20, preceding the Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper by about a week, on the average, both in arriving and in de- 

 parting on its migrations. It has been recorded from April 20 (Eaton) to 

 June 12 (Orient, Latham), and from June 27 (Orient, Latham) to October 

 14, 1912 (East Hampton, W. Helmuth). 



The Least Sandpiper sometimes occurs on the ocean beach, but is much 

 more characteristic of the marshes and mud-flats; it is also seen commonly 

 on floating beds of eel-grass in quiet coves and bays. It is very gregarious, 

 and travels usually in small bands of tkree or four to twenty individuals, 

 but may be seen in much gi'eater numbers. Practically every large mixed 

 flock of shore birds on Long Island contains Least Sandpipers; these, how- 

 ever, keep more or less to themselves, though feeding over the same gi-ound 

 with Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers, Ringnecks, and others. 

 The Oxeyes are also very apt to follow the movements of Yellowlegs with- 

 out associating very closely with them. 



Both the Least and the Semipalmated Sandpipers are very easily at- 

 tracted to stool, but in walking about are apt to become nervous when 

 they see a tall tin Yellowlegs towering above them. The stool are usually 

 set out in the water, but the Oxeyes, with their short legs, prefer to alight 

 on the bare ground, and when there is no convenient mud-bar, will often 

 pass by without a pause. 



In securing its food of minute animal life, the Least Sandpiper either 

 picks it up from the surface of the ground, or probes for it with a drilling 

 motion into the mud and sand, sometimes through shallow water, in which 

 it may thrust its bill entirely out of sight. It walks about in a rather lei- 

 surely manner, though meanwhile it gleans carefully and industriously. 



No more trustful snipe visits the Long Island shores; and it is not a very 

 uncommon experience for the photographer to see some of these little fellows 

 moving about fearlessly within a dozen feet of the place where he stands 

 in full view. At such times, as the members of a small band feed and 

 bathe, rippling the water with their wings, preening their feathers, and 

 even scratching their bills with their toes, they present a charming scene. 



