SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — GALLIXAGO. 189 



white, and barred with black throughout their length. BiU brown (greenish gray in life), paler at 

 base and darker toward the end ; legs dark brown (light greenish gray in life). 



Total length, about U).5() to 11.50 inches; extent, 1G.5() to 17.50; wing, 5.00 to 5.60; tail, 

 2.25 ; bill, 2.50 to 2.60 ; tarsus, 1.25. 



In a very large series of specimens from all parts of the continent north of Panama, no varia- 

 tions are noticeable other than wlitit appear of a purely individual character, and these are seldom 

 very pronounced. 



Hardly second even to the famed Woodcock as a game-bird, the common Ameri- 

 can Snipe has a much more extended range than that species. It is fonnd from 

 the Athmtic to the Pacilic, in the winter extending its migrations to Mexico and 

 Central and Northern South America, and in the summer breeding as far north as 

 Whale Cove, on Hudson's Bay, on the east, and Sitka, Kadiak, Fort Yukon, and 

 Fort Anderson on the north and west. It breeds from latitude 42° northward ; 

 and a few are occasionally known to nest sou.th of that line, and even in Maryland. 



Major Wedderburn states that this bird is more or less common in Bermuda 

 during the autumnal migration, coming in October, and a few remaining until the 

 month of January. In October, 1849, an immense number appeared, and remained 

 a few days. Some are killed from year to year in the months of March, April, and 

 May, in their vernal migrations. Mr. Hurdis states that it was occasionally met 

 wath as early as the loth of September. Mr. Leyland found it common in winter 

 near Omoa. Mr. C C. Taylor observed it near Comayagua, and has no doubt that it 

 is very common there in the rainy season ; and Mr. Salvin met with it in Guate- 

 mala. Professor iSTewton mentions its occurrence in St. Croix in the fall, but not 

 in numbers. It is included by Leotaud among, the common birds of the Island of 

 Trinidad, where by many it is regarded as a resident species. The last-named author 

 speaks of it as having the same appearance, the same cry, and the same habits as the 

 common Snipe of Europe. Its flesh is deservedly held in high esteem. It prefers 

 low, moist, and partially inundated meadows, where it is cpiite common. Hearne, 

 in his " Journey to the Northern Ocean " (p. 425), mentions this Snipe as visiting 

 Hudson's Bay in considerable numbers, but as only very rarely seen north of Whale 

 Cove. Bischoff obtained specimens at Sitka and Kadiak, and Dall found it rare on 

 the Yukon. 



Mr. Kennicott saw it breeding at Fort Yukon, May 29. He noticed the male on 

 two occasions perched on the top of a small spruce near its nest, and wdien startled 

 it flew to other trees, instead of alighting on the ground. It uttered at slight inter- 

 vals a series of notes a little in the style of the small Virginia Kail, but on a higher 

 key, like Jcak-kaJc-kak, and not so rapidly as the Eail. The nest was on a small, nearly 

 naked tussock, surrounded by w^ater, on the edge of a narrow marsh, in the Avoods, 

 thickly interspersed with large willows. On the land, within a few yards of the 

 nest, was a large thick grow^th of spruce. The nest was a simple depression, rather 

 deeper than that of Totanus favipes, lined with a little dry grass, and containing 

 three eggs ; a fourth was taken from the ovaries of the female. 



Captain Bendire mentions the Snipe as present and breeding in Southeastern 

 Oregon, but as not being common there. He met with one on the 15th of February, 

 and also noticed a pair in June, 1876, wdiich w^ere undoubtedly nesting in the marsh 

 from which he started them. Mr. Aiken speaks of it as common in Colorado during 

 the migrations, a few remaining during the winter. In Northeastern Illinois, near 

 Lake Michigan, Mr. Nelson found it a not very rare summer resident, arriving about 

 the 1st of April, nearly all having passed on by the 1st of May. He has found 

 several pairs evidently breeding in the marshes near Waukegan. 



