WATER BIRDS. 185 
Wood, who obtained specimens in August, 1890, near the River Rouge. 
Mr. Newell A. Eddy of Bay City, took two specimens on Saginaw Bay, 
Sept. 11, 1891, four more Sept. 1, 1893, and several others Sept. 23, 1893. 
One of those taken in 1893 was examined, and the identification verified, 
by Dr. T. 8. Palmer, of the Biological Survey, Washington, D. C., and the 
writer also examined two of Mr. Eddy’s specimens in November, 1904. 
Mr. A. B. Covert took a specimen near Ann Arbor, August 15, 1893; Leon 
J. Cole took one on the Lake Michigan shore, in Ottawa County, August 
20, 1895, and several more were taken at the same place August 24 to 26, 
1896, by L. J. Cole, T. L. Hankinson, and W. E. Mulliken. Two of these 
latter specimens are now in the collection of the Agricultural College, and 
one (No. 24387) in the Kent Scientific Museum, Grand Rapids. There 
is another specimen of Baird’s Sandpiper in the same collection, which was 
taken in Charlevoix county, September 6, 1879, and Mr. Leon J. Cole 
informs us that on the back of the original label was written “T. bonapartii,” 
and if ever reported in any list or otherwise it was as the White-rumped 
Sandpiper. Mr. R. H. Wolcott states that he found Baird’s Sandpiper 
along the river at Grand Rapids at the end of August, 1897, and F. H. 
Chapin states that he has seen it in Emmet, Cheboygan and Charlevoix 
counties in August and September. Five individuals were seen on the 
Charity Islands, Saginaw Bay, two on August 23 and three on August 24, 
1910 (N. A. Wood, Wilson Bulletin, XXIII, No. 2, 1911, 90). J. Claire 
Wood says it is “common in July and August near Detroit, Wayne county ” 
(Auk, XVII, 390). On the other hand, according to Swales (MS. List of 
Birds of St. Clair county, 1904), there is no authentic record for St. Clair 
county. 
In its habits it does not seem to differ much from its near relative the 
White-rumped Sandpiper, and the descriptions of its notes, food, and 
nesting habits are more or less confused with those of the latter species. 
It nests far north, and lays four light buff eggs, thickly spotted with brown, 
averaging 1.30 by .93 inches. 
Professor Aughey examined the stomachs of five specimens taken in 
Nebraska in October, 1873, 1874, and found locusts in three stomachs 
and numerous other insects in all (1st Rept. U. 8. Entom. Com., Appendix 
IT, 52). 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Wing between 4.50 and 5 inches; median upper tail-coverts brownish black, the lateral 
coverts much lighter. Ground color of entire upper parts pale grayish brown, often with 
a buffy tint, always more or less streaked or spotted with dark brown or blackish, the 
markings darkest and sharpest on top of head and interscapulars, lightest and most diffuse 
on back of neck; chin and most of under parts pure white or buffy white, the throat and 
chest alone darker buff and sometimes indistinctly streaked with dark brown or blackish. 
In winter the adult is less distinctly streaked above, and little or not at all below, while 
young birds are distinctly streaked with brown or blackish on the chest and throat, and 
the scapulars, interscapulars, tertiaries and most of the wing coverts are sharply edged 
or tipped with pure white. Length 7 to 7.60 inches; wing 4.60 to 4.85; culmen .90 to 1; 
tarsus 1. 
99. Least Sandpiper. Pisobia minutilla (Vieill.). (242) 
Synonyms: Sand-peep, Little Sand-peep, Peep.—Tringa minutilla, Vieill., 1819.— 
detainees atautlla, Bonap., 1856, Ridgw., 1881.—Tringa pusilla, Wils., Sw. and Rich., 
Aud.—Tringa wilsonii, Nutt., 1834, Baird, 1859. 
Recognizable by its small size (wing less than four inches), toes without 
webs at base, and rump and median upper tail-coverts black. 
