V ISO )
L I T T L E SANDPIPER.
TRINCIA PUSILLA, WI M .
Pr.ATK CCOXX. MALE AKB FEMALE.
Before, proceeding to detail my o^er^feot^oi i the habits of this
humhLeW extremely interesting bird, I deem it necessary to inform
you that I disclaim, as species WoJigSngito ¿he United States, or even
to any part of North America, the following, which however are given
in the Synopsis of the Prince'of M t r ^No / a n d in the work of my
generofe&iettd Tbom« Ndttalx., vis., TRINGA PUTYRHIMHA of Temminck,
T. TMRNMCKIOM™™*, T. RMMTA of-L?isi.er, «NMTA,of
Tehming*, and T.PMUA.OT Bechstein,- This opinion o f i m ^ I divulged
tosthe Prince of MM» » « , m London, and he has on this
account omitted these,species in his recently published lis*. The extreme
confusion that exists with respect t o i j ™ e c i e s , and many others of tip
same tribe, is in my opinion owged s 0 l | g by the anxiety
discover tor invent new spe'eies; often founding distinctionsonslightdiiferences
¡„the length of bills, tm-si, otftoe*. <• Now, Reader,if in such large
species as the ONM AMMCMA, for example, the young has .been palmed
on the W science as a distinct Specie? for nearly M SBi r y past,
without anyiotheri'kind of H or proof than that obtained from
mere dried skins, can we be .surprised that in,birds so small a« the
present, opportunities should have occurred of. committing errors.
My opinion, which I do not presef to you without due
is that W — « d S^es ,pf>ly the diminutive specxes
badly figured by Wilson, and almost ,as carelessly described by that
wonderful man.. To enter upon a long discussion as„to, tiie identity
1 the present bird with any. of the smA Tringa« enumerated
by European authors, wo»ld ^>e to me quite as irksome as | g g |
prove unprofitable to you, for there scarcely exists * smg^descttption
of thee birds suificittntlyi accurate to enable one to g g m
certainty All are as nearLy a, possibl, qf the same size and colour
excepting in those deviations dependent upon age, and the different
' states «E plumage. Butdn the most, intimately allied species .there
LITTLE SANDPIPER. 181
are always marked dillerences in habits, and especially in the sound
of the. voice..
That this species is naturallv disposed to seek alpine sections of
the country for the purpose of reproduction, I,obtained abundant proof
whilst in Labrador, where 1 found it plentiful, anil breeding on the
moss-clad crests of:the highest rocks, within short distances of the sea.
There are means through which the experienced student of Nature
may discover the: hidden treasures ,.of birds of this family, which to
others would prove useless, and viljiêh I shall here point out. At all
periods, exempting those at which they have nests :.containing eggs, or
young so small and delicate as to require p . the care of their parents,
the flight of the present .species usually resembles that of the.Common
Snipe, SMLOPAX WIKONIJ ; but when startled from the nest, or from anyplace
in its immediate vicinity, it rises on wing, and moves off low over
the ground with deeply incurved wings, and,with a whirring motion of
these .organs, which, if as rapid as that of a Partridge, would appear
quite.similar; but, on such occasions, our bird ,-novns slowlv before you,
suid instead of uttering the noto o ('independence,as it. wore, which itcmits
at .other times.while: freely and fearlessly travelling, it gives out sounds
weakened a* if by grief or anxiety, for the purpose of inducing you to
follow it,- If »11 ¿he. ground, it acts in a similar manner, moves off
slowly, and limping as if crippled,, and, this at times quite as much as
if you had really come upon JÉwhile on its nest,, or surprised it with
i t s young. Qn all sueh occasions, Reader, you ought to mark well the
spot from whi | i | the bird has started, and, to assure yourself that your
eye may not be deceived, throw your cap or hat a t your feet to serve
as a beacon, should necessity afterwards, call for it, to guide .you .around
the place until you have discovered the n e s t vflich you are desirous of
gleingi;
Through these means, onf®^ 20th of July 1833, I after some
search found the nest and eggs ô|tMs. species, . The. birds flew, to.use
the Words cWmy Journal, like Partridges, and not like Tringas. I
marked, them well, ¡ for both the female and the male flew from near
the nest, and having left my fisher's hat where I then stood, I walked
carefully over the moss hither and thither, until at last I came upon
the spot- My pleasure would. have been greatly augmented had any
of my young companions been near ; but the sailors who had rowed
me to the foot of the rocks exhibited little more delight than they