THE PIGMY CURLEW, OR CURLEW SANDPIPER . 
573 
Sometimes gaining a considerable elevation, it circles for several minutes in silence overhead, 
flying with great velocity, perhaps to pitch down again nearly perpendicularly to the same 
spot it started from. 
The migration southward occurs in August, and at about the first of April it leaves for the 
north. A form of this seen on Long Island occasionally has been called Cooper’ s Sandpiper. 
Unlike most Sandpipers, it does not flock to any etxent ; being oftenest seen singly or in 
pairs. In the United States it is mostly a bird of passage, though a few winter in the South- 
ern States. 
Bomapaete’s Sawdpipee ( Ti'inga fuscicollis), called also the White-rumped Sand- 
piper, inhabits the eastern portion of North America, or east of the Rocky Mountains, 
breeding in the far north. It is migratory through the Eastern United States, wintering 
in the South. It is also found in Greenland, West Indies, Central and South America. It 
is very abundant along the entire Atlantic coast, and readily distinguished by its white upper 
tail-coverts. 
Baied’s Samdpipee ( Tringa bairdi). This bird has only lately been introduced into our 
fauna. Specimens were found in Alaska and Arctic America, where they breed. It is found 
in the interior east of the Rocky Mountains, and has been regarded as a stranger to the 
Atlantic coast, though one specimen has lately been found there. Dr. Coues met with it in 
Dakota, during August, associated with the Red-breasted Snipe and Wilson’s Phalarope. 
Least Saxdpipee ( Actodromas minutilla ;). This little bird is found in every part of the 
American continent, and is sometimes noticed in Europe. It resides chiefly among the sea- 
marshes, and feeds on the mud-flats at low water. It is not altogether confined to the neigh- 
borhood of the sea. It is abundant in the Missouri region during migration. 
The popular name Teet or Peep is applied to it in every portion of the globe where it 
is found. Besides being gregarious among themselves, the Peeps are sociable with other shore 
birds ; and there is not often seen a group of beach-birds that has not more or less numbers of 
this bird. 
Dr. Coues pleasantly says of them : “Gadabouts they may be, but no scandal-mongers ; 
ubiquitous, turning up everywhere when least expected, but never looked ill upon ; bustling 
little busy-bodies, but minding their own business strictly. Besides environing a continent on 
three sides at least — and perhaps on the Arctic shores as well — not a river or lake, not a creek 
or pond, the banks of which are not populated at one season or another ; the track of their 
tiny feet, imprinted on the sand of the sea-shore, and the soil of the inland water, shows 
where they have been. Their numbers swell in no small degree the great tide of birds, that 
ceaselessly ebbs and flows once a year, in the direction of the polar star ; they taken away, a 
feature of the land would be lost. Altogether, they become imposing, though singly insig- 
nificant. If we do not know just what part is given out to them in the grand play of Nature, 
at least we may be assured they have a part that is faithfully and well performed.” 
Wilson says : “ This is the least of its tribe in this part of the world, and in its mode of 
flight resembles the snipe more than the Sandpiper. It springs with a zig-zag, irregular flight, 
and feeble twit. It is not entirely confined to the neighborhood of the sea. Its length is five 
inches and a half, and extent of wing eleven inches. The sexes are very closely alike. 
The Pigmy Cttelew, or Cuelew. Saxdpipee ( Pelidna subarquata :), is so called on 
account of the form of its beak, which bears some resemblance to that of the Curlew, although 
it is much smaller and not so sharply curved. 
Mr. Thompson remarks that “as it appears on the shore it is a gi aceful, pretty bird, and 
particularly interesting from, presenting so pleasing a minature of the great Curlew. I have 
often known the Pigmy Curlew to be killed in company with dunlins, occasionally with them 
and ring dottrells, once with those two species and godwits, in a single instance with red- 
shanks and knots.” In some years these birds are more plentiful, and may be seen in little 
