BIRDS OF KANSAS. 165 



Genus MICROPALAMA Caihd. 



"Form sleuder, the legs very long, the bill long and mnch compressed, the 

 anterior toes all webbed at the base. Tarsns nearly twice as long as the middle 

 toe. which is a little shorter than the bare portion of the tibise, this scutellate 

 before and behind, like the tarsus. Bill sleuder, straight, about equal to the 

 tarsus, greatly compressed, except at the end, which is decidedly expanded lat- 

 erally. Tail nearly even, but the central and exterior feathers usually percep- 

 tibly longer than the rest. Wings long and pointed. 



"The present genus, with a basal membrane to all the anterior toes, as in 

 Ereunetes, has this a little more deeply emarginate; the bill and legs much 

 longer; the former more curved. The bare portion of the tibia is covered before 

 and behind by transverse scutellse, like the tarsus. The tail is nearly even, 

 with a double emargiuation. The middle toe is not two-thirds the length of 

 the tarsus, but about equal to the bare portion of the tibia. The bill is much 

 pitted at the end in the dry skin. 



"In many respects this species approaches the Snipes, and its true place 

 is probably very near Macrorhamplms. The legs, however, are much longer, 

 and equal to the bill, instead of being much shorter." 



Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). 



STILT SANDPIPER. 

 PLATE X. 



Migratory, rare. Arrive in April; return the last of August 

 to middle of September. 



B. 536. R. 528. C. 611. G. 243, 76. U. 233. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, west to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains; south in winter to Brazil, Peru and West Indies; breed- 

 ing far northward. 



Sp. Char. ^^ Adult, summer plumage: Above, variegated with black, whitish 

 gray and pale buff, the first prevailing on the back and scapulars; wings rather 

 dark gray, the feathers edged with paler; primaries dusky slate; rump grayish, 

 the feathers with darker centers; upper tail coverts white, the longer ones 

 barred, the anterior ones longitudinally marked with dusky; middle tail feath- 

 ers light gray, the others varied longitudinally with white and pale gray; pileum 

 dusky, streaked with whitish; a dark brown loral stripe from base of maxilla to 

 eyes; auriculars and patch on each side the occiput light cinnamon rufous; 

 lower parts dirty white, the throat and jugulum streaked (other portions trans- 

 versely barred) with dusky; lining of the wing and axillars white, the latter 

 marked with gray. Adult, in winter: Above, uniform ash gray, the upper tail 

 coverts, tail and wings only as in the summer plumage; superciliary stripe and 

 lower parts white, the jugulum, sides of the neck and crissum streaked with 

 gray. Young: Back and scapulars blackish, all the feathers widely bordered 

 with buffy white, the middle of the back tinged with rusty; wing coverts bor- 

 dered with pale buff and white; upper tail coverts nearly immaculate white; 

 pileum streaked with dusky, pale buff and grayish; nape nearly uniform ash 

 gray; lower parts soiled white, the breast and sides more or less strongly suf- 



