160 



SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



FIG. 62. Least Sandpiper. 

 (Natural size.) 



"In habits they are similar to the White-rumped (which they so. 

 closely resemble), but are more inclined to wander from the water's 

 edge. I have flushed the birds on high prairie lands, at least a mile 

 Irom the water " (Goss). 



242. Tfinga minutilla Vieill. LEAST SANDPIPER ; MEADOW OXEYE ; 

 PEEP. Ad. in summer. Upper parts black or fuscous, edged and tipped 

 with buffy or rufous ; rump and middle upper tail-coverts plain black or fus- 

 cous ; central tail-feathers black or fuscous, outer ones ashy gray ; upper throat 



white ; neck and breast white or buff'y, 

 streaked with fuscous ; belly and sides 

 white. Im. Similar, but feathers of 

 the back with rounded rufous or buffy 

 tips; breast not distinctly streaked. 

 Winter plumage. Upper parts brown- 

 ish gray, sometimes with more or less 

 black in the centers of the feathers ; 

 breast white or ashy, not distinctly 

 streaked. L., 6-00; W., 3-50; Tar., 

 70 ; B., -75. 



Remarks. This is the smallest of 

 our Sandpipers, and can be confused 

 only with Ereunetes pusillus, from which, however, it may always be distin- 

 guished by the absence of webs between the bases of the toes. 



Range. North America, breeding in the arctic regions and wintering from 

 the Gulf States to South America. 



Washington, uncommon T. V., May ; Aug. to Oct. Long Island, abun- 

 dant T. V., Apl. 25 through May; July through Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably 

 common T. V., May 9 to May 22; Oct. 3. Cambridge, very common T. V., 

 May 25 to May 31 ; July 20 to Aug. 31. 



Eggs, three to four, pale, grayish buffy, varying to pale brownish, thickly 

 spotted, speckled, or sprinkled with deep chestnut and dull, purplish gray, 

 1-15 x -83 (Kidgw.). 



This, the smallest of our Sandpipers, is frequently associated with 

 its larger cousin the Semipalmated Sandpiper on the shores and 

 beaches, but it also visits the grassy meadows, and for this reason is 

 known by baymen as the " Meadow Oxeye." 



243a. Tringa alpina pacifica ( Coues). RED-BACKED SANDPIPER; 

 LEADBACK. Ad. in summer. Upper parts broadly margined with rufous, the 

 centers of the feathers black, wings brownish gray; breast whitish, lightly 

 streaked with blackish ; middle of the belly with a large black patch, lower 

 belly white. Im. Upper parts blackish, the feathers with rounded tips of 

 rufous or buffy; breast washed with buffy and indistinctly streaked with 

 blackish ; belly spotted with black. Winter plumage. Upper parts brown- 

 ish gray; middle upper tail-coverts fuscous; wing-coverts brownish gray 

 margined with buff'y ; throat white ; breast ashy, indistinctly streaked ; belly 



