370 CHARADRIIDZ. 
pitted as in the last-named genus. Both the outer and inner toes are united by a 
distinct basal membrane to the middle toe. 
Only one species, I. himantopus, is known, breeding in temperate North America, 
and migrating south in winter through our region and the West Indies to South 
America. 
‘1. Micropalama himantopus. 
Tringa himantopus, Bp. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ii. p. 157°. 
Micropalama himantopus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 2297; Scl. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 369°; Dresser, 
Ibis, 1866, p. 37*; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 47°; Sumichr. La Nat. v. p, 232° ; 
Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 2017; Ferrari-Perez, Pr. U. 8. Nat. 
Mus. ix. p. 178°; A. O. U. Check-l. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 86°; Elliot, N. Amer. 
Shore-Birds, p. 61°; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 401”. 
Ereunetes himantopus, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr. p. 400”. 
Ptil. hiem. Speciei praecedenti similis, sed minor, uropygio et supracaudalibus albis, brunneo striolatis nec 
transfascvatis ; rectricibus cineraceis, medialiter albis, minime nigro transfasciatis distinguenda. Long. 
tota circa 7°5, ale 5:1, caude 2°15, culm. 2-0, tarsi 1°75. (Descr. avis adultee ex Mexico, Mus. nostr.) 
Piil. estw. gutture toto brunneo striolato, corpore reliquo transfasciato, notzo nigro et rufo variegato, regione 
parotica et pilei postici lateribus cinnamomeis distinguenda. Long. tota 8:0, ale 5°0. (Descr. maris 
adulti ex Momotombo. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Eastern Nortu America, breeding north of the United States °.—Muexico?, Mata- 
moros (Dresser*), Zacatecas (Richardson '!), Laguna del Rosario, State of Tlaxcala 
(Ferrari-Perez ®), San Mateo, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast ®"); Guatemala, Duefias 
(O. S24); Nicaragua, Momotombo (Richardson '!).—Souta America generally 
in winter 1!; West Inpizs !!. 
The Stilt-Sandpiper does not breed so far north as some of the other Wading- 
birds which nest only in the Arctic Regions; but it is found during the breeding- 
season in ‘emperate and sub-Arctic North America, wintering in the Neotropical 
Region. It appears to pass on migration not only along both the Atlantic and Pacific 
coast-lines, but also through the interior of Central and South America. 
The records of the occurrence of this species within our limits are not numerous. 
Mr. Dresser* procured several specimens near Matamoros on the autumnal migration, 
when they were seen in company with Macrorhamphus griseus. We procured one 
example at Duefias, shot out of a flock of Zringa pectoralis. 
M. himantopus occurs on the eastern coast of the United States, where small flocks 
frequent the mud-flats, associating with other small Sandpipers. It is said to wade 
deep in the water, and to sweep with its bill for food, after the manner of an 
Avocet 1°, 
. The nest is described as a mere depression in the ground, lined with leaves and 
grass. The eggs are pale greyish-white, w th dark brown markings, which are more 
numerous at the larger end. 
