The Least Sandpiper 



trict of Alaska, north to northwestern Alaska and the southern Arctic islands. 

 Migrates throughout the United States. Winters from California, Texas, North Caro- 

 lina, etc., south to Brazil and Peru, and on the Galapagos Islands. Has occurred in 

 Greenland, in northeastern Siberia, and in England (2 records). 



Distribution in California. — Abundant during migrations throughout the 

 State. Winters commonly west of the Sierras, and from San Francisco Bay through 

 the San Diegan district. Non-breeding birds are to be found during the summer. 



Authorities. — Cassin (Tringa wilsonii), in Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. 

 ix., 1858, p. 721 (Petaluma); Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 35, 1910, 

 p. 41 (distr. and migr.) ; Moore, Auk, vol. xxix., 1912, p. 210 (Magdalen Ids.; breeding 

 dates). 



LITTLE children of the marshes! Dainty, lisping, pattering 

 pipers! Confiding fairies, heritors of an elder world, left stranded on the 

 roaring shores of time! How may we, whose eyes are inflamed with 

 covetous passion, whose ears are deafened with the sound of our own 

 instruments of destruction, and whose hands are red with blood, how may 

 we face your gentle innocence? And how may we endure the light of 

 confidence in your mild eyes? God made you to rebuke our follies, and 

 God has kept you tender and trustful in order that we may mend our ways. 



Taken near Santa Barbara 



A HESITANT APPROACH 



Photo by the Author 



In sober truth, a man does well to approach a company of these tiny 

 pipers on bended knees. He cannot deserve such good fortune as to be 

 taken into full fellowship, but by a proper show of humility he may at 

 least be permitted to see them in their innocence, dainty and unconscious; 



1239 



