LITTLE STINT. 



TRINGA MINUTA, Leisler. 



Tringa minutaj Leisler, Nachtrage zu Bechsteia's Naturg, 

 Deutschl. pp. 74-81 (1812) ; Naum. vii. p. 391 ; Macg. 

 iv. p. 227 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 386 ; Dresser, viii. p. 29. 



Becasseau minule, French ; Kleiner Strandldufer, German ; 

 Churrilla chica, Picaruica, Spanish, 



This species is an irregular autumnal visitor to our 

 coasts, more common in the eastern counties of England 

 than elsewhere, though seldom ver^ abundant in any 

 part of our islands. I have very little personal acquaint- 

 ance with this Sandpiper, having only met with it 

 occasionally in small numbers on the shores of the 

 Mediterranean ; in general habits it closely resembles 

 the well-known Dunlin, as it does also in appearance, 

 but the present species is considerably smaller, and 

 does not assume the black breast-plumage so character- 

 istic of the former bird in summer. The Little Stint 

 breeds in the extreme north-east of Europe and in 

 Siberia, and in winter ranges to the extreme south of 

 Africa and over the entire Indian region. Messrs. H. 

 Seebohm and Harvie Brown were the first to take the 

 eggs of this bird in Europe, near the mouth of the river 

 Petchora, in July 1875. 



