70 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



149. LITTLE STINT. 



Tringa mimita. 



I admit this species to a place in these Notes 

 solely on the authority of Mr. A. G. Elliot, of Stam- 

 ford, who, by letter in 1876, and subsequently by 

 word of mouth, assured me that he had received 

 several for preservation that had been killed on the 

 Welland. There is nothing in any way improbable 

 in this account, and Mr. Elliot convinced me that his 

 identification was correct. 



This bird is one with which I have but little 

 acquaintance, having only occasionally met with it 

 in Southern Europe. It is well known as a bird of 

 double passage on our eastern coasts, and in habits 

 and appearance closely resembles the Dunlin, but 

 does not acquire the black breast-feathers of that 

 species in summer, and averages two inches less in 

 total length. For most interesting and authentic 

 information on the breeding-habits, nest, and eggs of 

 this bird I refer my readers to the personal obser- 

 vations of Mr. Seebohm in his work entitled ' Siberia 



in Europe. 



150. CURLEW SANDPIPER. 



Tringa subarqiiata. 



The only Northamptonshire specimen of this bird 

 that I have ever seen or heard of is a male in immature 

 plumage that was killed by my neighboiu' Mr. George 

 Hunt from a passing flock of a dozen or fifteen 

 Avhilst he was Partridge-shooting on Pilton on the 



