388 CHAEADEIID^. 



Mexico 10 (PF^i^e 16)^ Vera Cruz {Salle ^% Sochiapa (Trujillo ^^), FatzcnaTO and 

 Hacienda de los Atlixcos (F. D. G. ^^), Orizaba (Jide Baird 1°), Tehuantepec city 

 (Sumichrast^), Progreso, N. Yucatan (Gaumer^^); Guatemala {Constancia^), 

 Duenas, Chiapam {0. S. & F. D. G. "), Rio Nagualate, Pacific coast {0. S. i^) ; 

 NicAEAGDA, Eio Escondido {Richmond 3) ; Costa Eica {Endres ", v. Frantzius 2"), 

 Eio Frio {Richmond ^), San Jose {Underwood, in litt.) ; Panama {M'Leannan ^^ ^^). 

 — South Ameeica in winter ; Galapagos Is. ^^. — Incidental in Europe ^^. 



The American Little Stint, as it occurs in Central America in winter, is distinguished 

 from all other Sandpipers by its small size, and by its pectoral band of ashy-grey, the 

 fore-neck and chest being grey, with dark shaft-streaks to the feathers. 



In the breeding-season L. minutilla retires, like its congeners of Europe and Asia, 

 to the Arctic Eegions, being found from Labrador to Alaska. It migrates southwards 

 by way of the shores and rivers of North America, and by both eastern and western 

 coasts, to Central America, wintering there and on the southern continent, extending as 

 far as Brazil, as well as to Peru on the western coast. 



Salvin noticed the species at the mouth of the Rio Nagualate on the Pacific coast 

 of Guatemala, where it occurred in some numbers in the month of March i'^. It 

 apparently winters in Nicaragua, as Mr. Richmond obtained specimens in December 

 and March ^. 



Contrary to the habits of the Little Stints in Europe, where they are rather shy 

 birds and by no means easy to procure during their migrations, the American species 

 is said by Mr. Elliot to occur in flocks and to be confiding and gentle in disposition. 

 In habits this bird resembles the other species of small Waders, and its food is 

 similar ^. 



The nest is said to be a depression in dry moss with a scanty lining of grass ^. The 

 eggs are four in number, pyriform, of a pale stone-grey colour, with small blotches, 

 spots, and specks of dark brown, yellowish-brown, and underlying pale purple ^^. 



HETEROPYGIA. 



ifeteropygia, Cones, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1861. p. 191 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxiy. p. 561 

 (1896). 



The members of the genus Heteropygia, a typical Neogaean form, resemble large 

 Stints, and like them have a short bill scarcely exceeding the tarsus in length. 

 In common with lAmonites they possess a hind toe, but have a longer tarsus, exceeding 

 liie middle toe and claw in length. 



Four species are known, one of which, H. acuminata, is an inhabitant of Eastern 

 Siberia and occurs in Alaska, passing through Japan and China to winter in Australia 

 ftud the Malay Archipelago ; the remaining three occur in Central America. 



