THE LITTLE STINT. 389 



This Sandpiper frequents sea-coasts and tidal rivers, but is also said to 

 come inland and to be found along the banks of lakes and ponds. In 

 Europe it breeds in May in marshes.* 



Genus TRINGA, Sriss. 



732. TRINGA MINUTA. 



THE LITTLE STINT. 



Tringa minuta, Leisl. Nacht. zu Bechst. Naturg. Deutsch. i. p. 74; Jerd. B. 2nd. 

 ii. p. 690; Dresser, Birds Eur. viii. p. 29, pi. ; Hume, S. F. i. p. 242, ii. p. 298; 

 Legge, S. F. i. p. 491 ; Armstrong, 8. F. iv. p. 342 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. 

 p. 461 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 113 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 884 ; Oates, S. F. x. 

 p. 240. 



Description. Winter plumage. Forehead, cheeks, superciliary streaks 

 and the entire lower plumage white, the breast with a few indi- 

 stinct brown mottlings ; crown, nape, hind neck, back, scapulars, lesser 

 and median wing-covert s ashy, the feathers with darker broad shaft- 

 streaks ; rump and upper tail-coverts blackish brown, the feathers edged 

 paler ; greater wing-coverts brown, broadly tipped with white ; quills 

 brown, the shaft of the first primary white, those of the others whitish 

 except at the tips and bases the secondaries distinctly edged with white ; 

 tertiaries paler brown edged with grey ; central tail-feathers brown edged 

 with fulvous, the others very pale uniform brown ; sides of the head and 

 neck grey streaked with brown ; axillaries and under wing-coverts 

 white. 



In summer the forehead and supercilia are dull white ; the crown, nape, 

 back, scapulars, tertiaries, central tail-feathers and the greater part of the 

 upper wing-coverts are blackish, each feather broadly edged with rufous ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts black ; tail-feathers, except the central pair, 

 pale brown as in winter ; primaries, secondaries and greater wing- coverts 

 as in winter ; sides of the head mingled rufous and brown ; sides of the 

 neck and the breast pale rufescent, the feathers with dusky centres; chin, 

 throat and remainder of lower plumage white. 



* None of the Waders about to be dealt with are likely to be found breeding in Burmah. 

 The mode of nidincation of all is very similar : they lay three or four eggs on the ground 

 either on the bare soil or in a slight depression lined with grass, generally in marshy 

 localities or not far from the sea-shore. The eggs are buff or stone-colour, blotched or 

 otherwise marked with brown of various shades ; in most cases they are sharply pointed ; 

 and they are deposited in the nest with the small ends pointing inwards. 



