278 



KEY TO THE \\ATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



TRINQA FUSCICOLLIS VicUI. 

 \Vhite=rumped Sandpiper. 



.-Idiilt ill sjiiiiincr : Top of the liead and back mottled 

 with black, dull white, and buff ; throat white ; breast finely 

 lined with dark brown : belly white ; an imperfect super- 

 ciliary line of dull white, rump dusky gray and most of 

 upper tail coverts wJiite. 



Adult in winter: Top of the head and back grayish, 

 some of the feathers marked with dark brown, giving it a 

 slightly mottled appearance on the back and top of the 

 head ; upper throat white ; breast ashy gray, the shafts of 

 the feathers showing brown ; belly white; forehead whit- 

 ish, extending in an imperfect superciliary line. 



Length, 6. 85 ; Wing, 4.95 : Tarsus. .95 ; Bill, .95. 



This species may be distinguished by the 

 white upper tail coverts. It ranges from the Arctic regions south to South 

 America and the West Indies. It breeds in high hititudes : the eggs are 

 buff or oHve, spotted and dotted with dark brown. 



TRINQA MINUTILLA VieiU. 

 Least Sandpiper. 



Adult in siinuner : Very small; upper parts 

 marked with tawny black and pale buff ; under 

 parts whitish on the throat, shading into ashy 

 gray, showing faint brownish lines on the breast ; 

 rest of the under parts white : bill dull black. 

 Xo IV eb between toes. 



Adult in 7vinter : Similar to the above but 

 grayer in color. 



Length, 5.50 to 6.50: Wing, 3.60; Tarsus, .75 ; 

 Bill. .85. 



The Least Sandpiper may be distinguished from the Semi- 

 pahiiated Sandpiper by the absence of the small web between 

 the toes, so noticeable in that species. 



Common throughout North and South America, breeding 

 north of the United States. Eggs are three to four, generally 

 pale buff mottled with chestnut brown. 



