192 
PROCEEDINGS OE THE ACADEMY OF 
280, tab. 337 ; Giraud, Birds L. I. 1844, 240. Gray, Genera, 1849, iii. 579. 
Woodhouse, Expl. Zuni. 1853, 100. 
Pelidna pusilla , Bonaparte, Comp. List, 1838, 50. Gosse, Birds Jamaica, 1847, 
348. 
Tringa Wilsoni , Nuttall, Man. 1834, ii. 121. Cooper et Suckley, Nat. Hist. 
Wash. Terr. 1860, 240. 
Tringa ( Tringa ) pusilla , Bonaparte, Comp. Speech. 1827, 237. 
Tringa ( Aciodromas ) Wilsoni , Cassin, Gen. Rep. 1858, 721. 
Sp. Char. — The smallest of North American Tringece. Bill straight, very 
slender, about equal to the tarsus, but varying somewhat, the tip scarcely 
expanded, and the point very acute. Wings long, first and second primaries 
about equal, third but little shorter. Tertials very long, frequently nearly 
equalling the primaries. Tail rather long, the central feathers moderately pro- 
jecting and rather rounded. Middle toe frequently slightly longer than tarsus. 
Upper parts generally with each feather having a central black field, and being 
edged with chestnut and tipped with ashy white, the margins making a deep 
indentation in the middle of the feather. Outer row of tail coverts white, with 
large, sagittate, dusky spots. Central tail feathers black, edged with light 
reddish, the others very light ashy with whitish borders. Primaries deep 
dusky, almost black, the shaft of the first white. Secondaries and greater 
coverts dusky, lighter on the inner vanes, and tipped with white. An indistinct 
whitish line over the eye, and a dusky one between the eye and bill. Jugulum 
and sides to some distance with a very decided brownish suffusion, and thickly 
marked with rounded spots and streaks of dusky. Chin and under parts gene- 
rally white, the former usually with minute points of dusky. Legs, feet and 
bill greenish dusky, the latter nearly black. 
Length 5-5 to 6, extent 11-5 to 12, wing 3*4. Bill, tarsus and middle toe 
about -75. 
Habitat. — Entire temperate North America. 
The diminutive size of the present species at once distinguishes it from any 
other Sandpiper now recognised as an inhabitant of North America; but in 
view of the species of other countries with which it is very closely allied, and 
especially of the uncertainty whether there be got two or more distinct species 
in North America, a more minute description may not be considered as unneces- 
sary. In addition, therefore, to the preceding diagnosis, which presents the 
principal characters of adult individuals, the following remarks may tend to 
define it with more precision. 
In apparently adult specimens, the general style of coloration much more 
closely resembles that of Bairdii than of maculata , in the rounded black spots 
and color of the edgings, as well as in the scolloping at the middle of each 
feather. Young birds, however, are precisely similar to the maculata in the 
same stage, having the edges of the feathers bright chestnut, and the tips pure 
white. In this respect the species departs from the general rule with regard to 
young birds, the plumage at that age being actually brighter than during the 
breeding season. The same is the case with the A. maculata. An evidence of 
immaturity, however, may always be found in the color of the jugulum. where 
the wash is simply dull ashy, and the streaks narrow and illy defined. The 
chin, too, is immaculate, while with the adults it is usually minutely dotted 
with dusky. The young have the lesser wing coverts broadty margined with 
light reddish, while the adults have them merely a lighter shade of the color 
of the rest of the feather. The color of the jugulum is much that of A. Bairdii , 
being of the same decided brownish tint; and the similarity is heightened by 
the rounded and somewhat obsolete character of the spots. The color of the 
breast extends along the sides about half way to the tail, but some feathers are 
marked with dusky quite to the vent. The under tail coverts are usually im- 
maculate, but sometimes have shaft lines of dusky. The primaries are deep 
dusky, still darker at tip, the shaft of the first being white for its entire length, 
