32 



LITTLE SANDPIPER. 

 TBINGA PUSILLA. 

 [Plate XXXVII.— Fig. 4.] 



Lath. Syn. V, p. \ii—52.—Arct. Zool. II, No. 397.— Cinclus dominicensis minor, Briss. 

 Y,p, 222. 13. t, 25./ 2.-- Turt. Si/st. p. 410.— Pe ale's Museum, No, 4138. 



THIS is the least of its tribe in this part of the world, and in 

 its mode of flight has much more resemblance to the Snipe than to 

 the Sandpiper. It is migratory, departing early in October for the 

 south. It resides chiefly among the sea marshes, and feeds among 

 the mud at low water; springs with a zig-zag irregular flight, and 

 a feeble twit. It is not altogether confined to the neighbourhood 

 of the sea, for I have found several of them on the shores of the 

 Schuylkill, in the month of August. In October, immediately be- 

 fore they go away, they are usually very fat. Their nests or parti- 

 cular breeding places I have not been able to discover. 



This minute species is found in Europe, and also at Nootka 

 sound on the western coast of America. Length five inches and a 

 half; extent eleven inches; bill and legs brownish black; upper 

 part of the breast grey brown, mixed with white; back and upper 

 parts black; the whole plumage above broadly edged with bright 

 bay and yellow ochre; primaries black; greater coverts the same, 

 tipt with white; eye small, dark hazel; tail rounded, the four ex- 

 terior feathers on each side dull white, the rest dark brown; tertials 

 as long as the primaries; head above dark brown with paler edges; 

 over the eye a streak of whitish; belly and vent white; the bill is 

 thick at the base, and very slender towards the point; the hind toe 

 small. In some specimens the legs were of a dirty yellowish color. 



