GRALL^ — SCOLOPACID.E — SCOLOPAX. 255 



THE DOWITCHEE. 



SCOLOPAX NOVEBORACENSIS. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Scolopax grisea et novboracensis, Gm, Brown and Red-breasted Snipe. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 464 



(winter and summer). 

 S. noveboracensis. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 45, pi. 58, fig. 1. S. grisea, Ord'3 Reprint, p. 49. 

 Limosa scolopacea. Say, Long's Exped. Vol. 2, p. 170 (winter). 

 Totanus noveboracensis. Sabine, Frank. Journey (autumn). 

 8. ( Macroramphus ) grisea. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 330. Id. Am. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 51, pi. 23, 



fig. 3 (winter). 

 <S. noveboracensis, New-York Godwit. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 398. Nutt. Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 181. 

 S. id., Red-breasted Snipe. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 6, p. 10, pi. 351. Giradd, Birds of Long island, p. 263. 



Characteristics. Rump and tail white ; the former spotted ; the latter banded with black : 

 shaft of the first quill white. Summer, black, ash and reddish above ; 

 beneath reddish. Winter, ash-colored above ; beneath white. Young : 

 neck and breast ash, margined with reddish ; beneath white tinged with 

 reddish. Length, 10' 0. 



Description. Bill straight, compressed for more than half its length, 2'0 long, as long 

 again as the tarsus : inner secondaries much elongated. Tail moderate, nearly even, of 

 twelve feathers. 



Color. Bill and feet dark olive. Spring : Above brownish black, varied and barred with 

 brownish red ; beneath dull chesnut, with distant narrow bars of black. Tail white or light 

 clay-color, barred with black. Summer, above dark, obliquely barred with brownish red. 

 7-9 blackish bars across the tail ; the tip white. A dull light reddish band round the eye. 

 All beneath orange red, with streaks and spots of black. Winter, brownish grey above, 

 barred with dusky ; neck ash-grey, streaked with dusky ; throat and lower parts white. 



Length, 9-5-10-5. 



The Dowitchee, Red-breasted Snipe, Quail Snipe, or Brown-back, arrives on the coast of 

 New-York towards the latter part of April, and, after a few weeks delay, pursues its course 

 northwardly to breed. Tts breeding places have not yet been ascertained. About the middle 

 of July, it returns in great numbers to our coast, and is also distributed through the interior 

 to the River Columbia. Its flesh is good, but not as much esteemed as that of the following 

 species. It ranges from 65° north to Mexico. Its history is still incomplete. 



