LITTLE SANDPIPER. 
71 
24 th of May the eggs in the females were about the 
size of partridge shot. In what particular regions of 
the north these birds breed is altogether unknown. 
222 . TRINGA FUSILLA, WILSON. — LITTLE SANDPIPER. 
WILSON, PLATE XXXVII. FIG. IV. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
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 zigzag 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 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 of a dirty yellowish 
colour. Sides of the rump, white ; just below the 
greater coverts, the primaries are crossed with white. 
Very little difference could be perceived between the 
plumage of the males and females. The bay on the 
edges of the back and scapulars was rather brighter in 
the male, and the brown deeper. 
