SPECIES 5. TRINGA PUSILLA. 



LITTLE SANDPIPER. 



[Plate XXXVII. Fig. 4.] 



LATH. Syn. v, p. 184 32. Arct. Zool. n, JVo. $97. Cinclus 

 dominicensis minor, BRISS. v, p. 222. 13. f. 25. /. 2. TURT. 

 . 410. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 4138. 



THIS is the least of its tribe in this part of the world, and in 

 its mode of flight has much more resemblance to the Snipe than 

 to the Sandpiper. It is migratory, departing early in October 

 for the south. It resides chiefly among the sea marshes, and 

 feeds among the mud at low water; springs with a zig-zag irre- 

 gular flight, and a feeble twit. It is not altogether confined to 

 the neighbourhood of the sea, for I have found several of them 

 on the shores of the Schuylkill, in the month of August. In 

 October, immediately before they go away, they are usually 

 very fat. Their nests or particular breeding places I have not 

 been able to discover. 



This minute species is found in Europe, and also at Nootka 

 sound on the western coast of America. Length five inches and 

 a half; extent eleven inches; bill and legs brownish black; upper 

 part of the breast gray brown, mixed with white; back and upper 

 parts black; the whole plumage above broadly edged with bright 

 bay and yellow ochre; primaries black; greater coverts the same, 

 tipt with white; eye small, dark hazel; tail rounded, the four 

 exterior feathers on each side dull white, the rest dark brown; 

 tertials as long as the primaries; head above dark brown with 

 paler edges; over the eye a streak of whitish; belly and vent 

 white; the bill is thick at the base, and very slender towards 

 the point; the hind toe small. In some specimens the legs were 



