Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 26. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 26th Lecture (ca. 1799): "844. 4023. Sand snipe. This is probably the smallest snipe we possess. The Bill is 1 ¼ Inch long; grey and brown back, and light breast; the toes are in a small degree palmated; and the hind toe long for the size of the bird … 875. Little Sandpiper. Bill ¾ of an Inch long; the toes slightly connected at the base & the hind toe very small. Therefore I have placed it in this genus. The back and upper parts are brown & grey and the light…" (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "Those of America [include] the … little sandpiper." He also wrote: "The variety which we see here belonging to America is considerable, it is a very large family. before we leave them we ought to take notice of … the smallest [species] – the sandsnipe." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Little Sandpiper / Tringa pusilla" in American Ornithology vol. 5 (1812a, Pl. 37), where "Peale's Museum, No. 4138" was cited (Wilson 1812: 32) cited. / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/38/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175520#page/8/mode/1up (plate). The species appeared again as "Semipalmated Sandpiper / Tringa semipalmata" in American Ornithology vol. 7 (Pl. 63), where "Peale's Museum, No. 4023" was cited (Wilson 1813: 131). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175507#page/153/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175507#page/144/mode/1up (plate).
Notes:
Some of these references may refer to Least Sandpipier (Calidris minutilla).
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Current Scientific Name
Scolopacidae | Calidris pusilla
