THE PIGMY CURLEW, OR CURLEW SANDPIPER. 573 



Sometimes gaining a considerable elevation, it circles for several minutes in silence overhead, 

 flying with great velocity, perhaps to pitch down again nearly perpendicularly to the same 

 spot it started from. 



The migration southward occurs in August, and at about the first of April it leaves for the 

 north. A foi-m of this seen on Long Island occasionally has been called Cooper's Sandpiper. 



Unlike most Sandpipers, it does not flock to any extent ; being oftenest seen singly or in 

 pairs. In the United States it is mostly a bird of passage, though a few winter in the South- 

 ern States. 



Bonafakte's Sandpiper {Tringa fuscicolUs), called also the White-rumped Sand- 

 piper, inhabits the eastern portion of North America, or east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 breeding in the far north. It is migratory through the Eastern United States, wintering 

 in the South. It is also found in Greenland, West Indies, Central and South America. It 

 is very abundant along the entii'e Atlantic coast, and readily distinguished by its white upper 

 tail-coverts. 



Baird's Sandpiper {Tringa bairdi). This bird has only lately been introduced into our 

 fauna. Specimens were found in Alaska and Arctic America, where they breed. It is found 

 in the interior east of the Rocky Mountains, and has been regarded as a. stranger to the 

 Atlantic coast, though one specimen has lately been found tliere. Dr. Cones met with it in 

 Dakota, during August, associated with the Red-breasted Sni])e and AVilson's Phalarope. 



Least Sandpiper {Actodroinas 'miiiutiUa). This little bird is found in every part of the 

 American continent, and is sometimes noticed in Eurojae. It resides chiefly among the sea- 

 marshes, and feeds on the mud-flats at low water. It is not altogether confined to the neigh- 

 borhood of the sea. It is abundant in the Missouri region during migration. 



The popular name Teef or Peej) is applied to it in every portion of the globe where it 

 is found. Besides being gregarious among themselves, the Peeps are sociable witli other shore 

 birds ; and there is not often seen a group of beach-birds that has not moi'e or less numbers of 

 this bird. 



Dr. Coues pleasantly says of them: "Gadabouts they may be, but no scandal-mongers; 

 ubiquitous, turning np everywhere when least expected, but never looked ill upon ; bustling 

 little busy-bodies, but minding their own business strictly. Besides environing a continent on 

 three sides at least^ — and perhaps on the Arctic shores as well — not a river or lake, not a creek 

 or pond, the banks of which are not populated at one season or another ; the track of their 

 tiny feet, imprinted on the sand of the sea-shore, and the soil of the inland water, shows 

 where they have been. Their numbers swell in no small degree the great tide of birds, that 

 ceaselessly ebbs and flows once a year, in the direction of the polar star ; they taken away, a 

 feature of the land would be lost. Altogether, they become imposing, though singly insig- 

 nificant. If we do not know just what part is given out to them in the grand play of Nature, 

 at least w^e may be assured they have a part that is faithfully and well performed." 



Wilson says : " This is the least of its tribe in this part of the world, and in its mode of 

 flight resembles the snipe more than the Sandpiper. It springs with a zig-zag, ii-regular flight, 

 and feeble twit. It is not entirely confined to the neighborhood of the sea. Its length is five 

 inches and a half, and extent of wing eleven inches. The sexes are very closely alike. 



The Piomt Curlew, or Curlew Sandpiper {Pelkliui sudarquata), is so called on 

 account of the form of its beak, which bears some I'esemblance to that of the Curlew, although 

 it is much smaller and not so sharply curved. 



Mr. Thompson remarks that " as it appears on the shore it is a graceful, pretty bird, and 

 particularly interesting from presenting so pleasing a miniature of the great Curlew. I have 

 of ten known the Pigmy Curlew to be killed in company with dunlins, occasionally with them 

 and ring dottrells, once with those two -species and godwits, in a single instance with red- 

 shanks and knots." In some years these birds are more plentiful, and maybe seen in little 



