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SPECIES 5. THINGS PUSILLA. 
LITTLE SANDPIPER. 
[Plate XXXVII.— Fig. 4.] 
Lath. Syn. v, p. 184 — 32. — Jlrct. Zool. ii, 397. — Cinclus 
dominicensis minor, Buiss. v, p. 222. 13. t. ^5. f. 2. — Turt. 
Syst.p. 410. — Peale’s Museum, JVo. 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 irre- 
gular 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 before they go away, they are usually 
very fat. Their nests or particular 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 gray 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 
exterior 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 
