LITTLE STINT. 205 



distinguished by having no white on the shafts of any of the primaries 

 except the first. Its large pale feet (the middle toe and claw measuring 

 nearly an inch) distinguish it from T. minuta and T. minuta ruficollis (but 

 T. minuta minutilla is more or less intermediate in this respect) . This 

 species has only been found during the breeding-season on the northern 

 and western shores of the Sea of Ochotsk ; but as it is recorded as passing 

 through Lake Baikal on migration, it probably breeds also in the valley of 

 the Lena below the Arctic circle. It is also known to pass the valley of 

 the Amoor and the coasts of Japan and China on migration, to winter in 

 the islands of the Malay archipelago, Burma, India, and Ceylon. 



On the American continent a form of the Little Stint, T. minuta minu- 

 tilla, is found, which is on an average a smaller bird, and presents some 

 other slight differences, which are pointed out in the next article. 



The summer plumage of the extreme form of T. minuta ruficollis is very 

 different from that of the typical bird, the chin, throat, and upper breast 

 being unspotted chestnut (the spots on the underparts being principally 

 confined to the lower breast), and the two centre tail-feathers being 

 brownish black, with no chestnut margins. Unfortunately, however, for 

 its specific distinctness, a perfect series from one form to the other may be 

 found, and it is doubtful if any distinction can be drawn between the two 

 forms in fully adult winter plumage. Middendorff found this form during 

 the breeding-season on the southern shores of the Sea of Ochotsk, and 

 Pallas originally described it from Dauria. On migration it passes Lake 

 Baikal, Japan, and China, and winters in the Malay archipelago and 

 Australia ; but there does not appear to be any evidence that it has ever 

 occurred in India or Burma. 



The habits of the Little Stint can only be observed in our islands during 

 its brief stay in spring and autumn as it passes to and from its Arctic 

 breeding-grounds. A few birds usually make their appearance in August, 

 and as the autumn advances they become much commoner and spread 

 themselves along the coasts. Here they remain until late in October, then 

 pass on again. It returns in May, many lingering until the middle of June 

 on the flat shores of this country, waiting for the snow to melt which covers 

 its nesting-places. A few individuals possibly linger here all the summer, 

 but do not breed. In its habits the Little Stint very closely resembles the 

 Dunlin. It often flocks with those birds, as well as with Sanderlings. It 

 loves to frequent the bright open sands, extensive salt-marshes, mud-flats, 

 and estuaries, where it may be seen running about in true Sandpiper style 

 in search of its food. It frequently runs along the wet sand close to the 

 water-side, following the waves as they retire, and tripping hastily before 

 them as they break and sweep in again. It is an active, graceful little 

 creature, and when not much alarmed a very tame one. When fre- 

 quenting the sandy shores in autumn, sometimes in considerable flocks, it 



