BIRDS or INDIANA. 711 



Nest, a slight depression in the ground, lined with grass. Eggs, 

 '3-4, light creamy buff, sometimes tinged with rusty, thickly speckled, 

 or spotted with deep reddish-brown or chestnut; 1.30 by .93. 



Eare migrant. Up to this time it has been taken in Indiana but 

 twice, both times in August. In fact the single instance given by Dr. 

 Wheaton (Birds of Ohio, p. 176) in March, is, except the general ref- 

 erence given by Nelson (Birds of N. E. 111., p. 127) the only one of 

 its occurrence in the Ohio Valley, or the upper lake basin at that 

 season, that has come to my notice. 



It seems to be common in Kansas and Nebraska in spring (Cooke 

 Bird Mig. in Miss. Valley, p. 93) and may pass north through this 

 western route. 



Mr. W. 0. Wallace took a single specimen August 26, 1893, at Wa- 

 bash, and Mr. J. GT. Parker, Jr., has a male taken at Miller's, Ind., Au- 

 gust 24, 1896. He was in company with Mr. F. M. Woodruff, who in- 

 forms me that they saw several, probably five, of these birds. Mr. 

 Parker also has a female taken at Mud Lake, Cook County, 111., Au- 

 gust 22. 1893. It has been taken in Michigan, August 15, 1893 (Co- 

 vert), August 20, 1895 (Milliken). 



In Ohio it has been reported by Dr. Wheaton in September and 

 'October. The latest date being one noted by Dury and Freeman, 

 October 27, 1878, at Cincinnati. 



This bird is much more numerous farther west, where, in some 

 parts, Dr. Coues says it is the most abundant small sandpiper during 

 migrations. 



96. (242). Tringa minutilla VIEILL. 



Least Sandpiper. 



Upper parts in summer, with each feather blackish centrally, edged 

 with light bay and tipped with ashy or white; in winter, and in the 

 immature, simply ashy; tail feathers, gray, with whitish edges, the 

 central, blackish, usually with reddish edges; crown not conspicuously 

 different from hind neck; chestnut edgings of scapulars usually scal- 

 loped; below, white, the jugulum with dusky streaks and an ashy or 

 brownish suffusion; bill, black; legs, dusky greenish. Smallest of the 

 Sandpipers. 



Length, 5.00-6.75; wing, 3.50-3.75; bill, .7S-.92; tarsus, .75. 



RANGE. The whole of America, breeding almost if not entirely 

 north of United States; winters from Gulf coast south. Accidental in 

 Europe. 



