LITTLE SANDPIPER. 71 



24th of May the eggs in the females were about the 

 size of partridge shot. In what particular regions of 

 the north these birds breed is altogether unknown. 



222. TBINGA PUSILLA, WILSON. LITTLE SANDPIPER. 

 WILSON, PLATE XXXVII. FIG. IV. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



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 zigzag irregular flight, 

 and a feeble twit. It is not altogether confined to the 

 neighbourhood o^ 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 of a dirty yellowish 

 colour. Sides of the rump, white; just below the 

 greater coverts, the primaries are crossed with white. 



Very little difference could be perceived between the 

 plumage of the males and females. The bay on the 

 edges of the back and scapulars was rather brighter in 

 the male, and the brown deeper. 



