THE LITTLE STINT. 
389 
This Sandpiper frequents sea-coasts and tidal rivers_, but is also said to 
come inland and to be found along the banks of lakes and ponds. In 
Europe it breeds in May in marshes.^ 
Genus TRINGA, Briss. 
732. TEINGA MINUTA. 
THE LITTLE STINT. 
Tringa minuta, Leisl. Nacht. zu Bechst. Naturg. Deutsch. i. p. 74; Jerd. B. Ind. 
ii. p. 690 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. Vm. p. 29, pi. ; Hume, S. F. i. p. 242, ii. p. 298 ; 
Legge, S. F. i. p. 491 ; Armstrong, S. F. iv. p. 342 ; Hufne Sf Dav. S. F. vi. 
p. 461 ; Hume, 8. F. viii. p. 113 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 884 ; Oates, S. F. x. 
p. 240. 
Description. — Winter plumage. Forehead^ cheeks, superciliary streaks 
and the entire lower plumage white_, the breast with a few indi- 
stinct brown mottlings ; crown, nape, hind neck, back, scapulars, lesser 
and median wing-coverts ashy, the feathers with darker broad shaft- 
streaks ; rump and upper tail-coverts blackish brown, the feathers edged 
paler ; greater wing- coverts brown, broadly tipped with white ; quills 
brown, the shaft of the first primary white, those of the others whitish 
except at the tips and bases ; the secondaries distinctly edged with white ; 
tertiaries paler brown edged with grey ; central tail-feathers brown edged 
with fulvous, the others very pale uniform brown sides of the head and 
neck grey streaked with brown ; axillaries and under wing-coverts 
white. 
In summer the forehead and supercilia are dull white ; the crown, nape, 
back, scapulars, tertiaries, central tail-featliers and the greater part of the 
upper wing-coverts are blackish, each feather broadly edged with rufous ; 
rump and upper tail-coverts black ; tail-feathers, except the central pair, 
pale brown as in winter ; primaries, secondaries and greater wing- coverts 
as in winter ; sides of the head mingled rufous and brown ; sides of the 
neck and the breast pale rufescent, the feathers with dusky centres ; chin, 
throat and remainder of lower plumage white. 
* None of tlie Waders about to be dealt with are likely to be found breeding in Burmah. 
The mode of nidification of all is very similar : they lay three or four eggs on the ground 
either on the bare soil or in a slight depression lined with grass, generally in marshy 
localities or not far from the sea-shore. The eggs are buff or stone-colour, blotched or 
otherwise marked with brown of various shades j in most cases they are sharply pointed 
and they are deposited in the nest with the small ends pointing inwards. 
