SCOLOPACID^ — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MACRORHAMPHUS. 



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Genus MACRORHAMPHUS, Leach. 



Macrorhamjyhus, "Leach, Cat. Brit. Birds, 1816," Gray (type, Scolopax cjrisea, Gm.). 



Char. General appearance of Gallinago. Tarsi longer than middle toe ; a short web between 

 the base of outer and middle toe. Plumage ver}^ different in winter and summer ; young different 

 from the adult. 



The membrane at the base of the toes will at once distinf,aiish this genus from Gallinago, 

 though there are other characters involved. 



M. griseus. 



But a single species of this genus is known ; this inhabits the whole of North America, breeding 

 in the northern regions, and occurring more or less" frecLuently in Europe. 



The single species of this genus, with its two well-marked geographical races is characterized 

 as follows : — 



L M. griseus. About the size of Gallinago JVilsoni, or larger. Bill long, compressed, flattened 

 and expanded toward the end, where (in dried specimens) punctulated and corrugated. Shaft of 

 first j)rimary strong, pure white. Axillars, tail-coverts, and lower part of rump, white, barred, or 

 transversely spotted, with slate-color ; upper part of rump white, tisually immaculate. Tail slaty 

 or dusky, barred with white (or, in summer adult, with pale cinnamon on the middle feathers). 

 Adult in sum'nur : Head, neck, and lower parts light cinnamoji (the abdomen sometimes whitish), 

 the foreneck and sides of breast speckled, the sides and crissum barred or speckled with dusky. 

 Upper parts mixed black, light cinnamon, and white, the former prevailing. Adult in winter : 

 Belly and anal region white, usually unspotted ; rest of the plumage nearly uniform ash-gray, 

 somewhat intermixed with white on the breast and sides ; wing-coverts bordered with whitish ; a 

 whitish superciliary stripe. Young, first plumage : Back, scapulars, and tertials, variegated black 

 and light clay-color, the latter chiefly on the edges of the feathers ; lower parts dirty white, soiled 

 with dull buff" or pale clay color, especially across the breast ; jugulum and sides usually indis- 

 tinctly speckled with dusky. Total length, about 10.00 to 12.50 inches ; extent, 17.50 to 20.25 ; 

 wing, 5.30-6.00 (5.73) ; cuimen, 2.00-3.00; tarsus, 1.25-1.75 (1.53) ; middle toe, .90-1.10 (1.00). 

 a. griseus. Wing, 5.25-5.90 (5.65); cuimen, 2.00-2.55 (2.30); tar.sus, 1.20-1.55 (1.35); 

 middle toe, .90-1.05 (.95).^ Adult in summer : Abdomen whitish ; breast and sides speckled 

 with dusky. Hah. Atlantic coast of North America. 

 /3. scolopaceus. Wing, 5.40-6.00 (5.74) ; cuimen, 2.10-3.00 (2.72) ; tarsus, 1.35-1.75 (1.58) ; 

 middle toe, .95-1.15 (1.01).^ Adult in summer: Abdomen uniform cinnamon, without 

 markings ; breast speckled (usually scantily), and sides barred -n-ith dusky. Hah. Mississippi 

 Valley and Western Province of North America, from Mexico to Alaska. 



1 Extremes and average of eighteen fully adult specimens. 

 - Extremes and average of forty fully adult specimens. 



