126 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



in summer streaked with sooty on a light grey ground in adult winter with 

 fulvous-grey in the young autumn and winter dress. The distinguishing mark, 

 however, is the white upper tail-coverts (there are a few dusky streaks, but only 

 on the lateral ones) by which this bird may be instantly known, even on the 

 wing, from any bird of its size and class, except the Curlew Sandpiper. The 

 length of the bill in the latter (i inches) will prevent its being confused with 

 Bonaparte's Sandpiper, in which the bill seldom attains i inch in length. Total 

 length 7-7^ inches, closed wing 4f-4f. 



The eggs have only been found in the "barrens" of the American far north, 

 and are four in number, ruddy-drab in ground colour, boldly blotched with dark 

 brown, measuring if by barely i inch. The nest is a simple hollow, lined with 

 a few dead leaves. The bird frequents rocky shores in autumn and spring, 

 according to Dr. Coues, and feeds on insects, small marine Crustacea and worms, 

 and is very tame; its note is a "weet." 



Family SCOLOPACWsE. 



LITTLE STINT. 



Tringa minuta, L/EIS. 



THE present is another of those birds whose eggs and nest were, until com- 

 paratively recent years, a complete mystery. It is well known now that 

 there is a general rule that birds which breed furthest north are found latest on 

 our shores in spring, reappear earliest in autumn, and go furthest south to winter. 

 They remain late in spring, of course, till the late arctic spring shall have set in, 

 and return early because of the early northern winter ; but it was formerly 

 supposed that these movements were dictated by quite an opposite reason to the 



