88 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



8'. Bill not distinctly widened and roughened at tip. 



9. Wing less than 4 Ereunetes, p. 93. 



9'. Wing over 4. 



10. Tarsus equal to middle toe and claw. 



11. Wing under 4.00 .... Actitis, p. 100. 

 11 '. Wing over 6.50 . . . Heteractitis, p. 98. 

 10'. Tarsus much longer than middle toe and claw. 

 11. Wing with large white patch. 



Symphemia, p. 98. 

 11'. Wing without white patch. 



12. Upper tail coverts white . Totanus, p. 96. 

 12'. Upper tail coverts dusky. 



Helodromas, p. 97. 



GENUS PHILOHELA. 



228. Philohela minor (GmeL). American Woodcock, 



Bill long and slender, mandibles grooved and roughened toward end, 

 tip of uj^per overlapj)ing the under ; nostril small at edge of feathers ; 

 three outer quills abruptly narrowed. 



Upper parts grayish brown, mottled with black ; back of head black, 

 with narrow cross-bars of buffy ; under parts rich buff, darker on throat. 

 Length : 10.50-11.75, wing 4.80-5.70, bill 2.50-2.75, tarsus 1.25. 



Distribution. — Eastern United States north to Canada, west to Rocky 

 Mountains in Colorado ; breeds throughout its range. 



Nest. — On ground in wooded bottoms, usually by a log or stump, made 

 of leaves and grass. Eggs : 3 or 4, grayish to buffy white, spotted with 

 reddish brown. 



Dr. A. K. FislicT says : "This much sought game bird is in dan- 

 ger of extermination from the barbarous custom of hunting it in 

 spring and summer, just before and during the breeding season." 



GENUS GALLINAGO. 

 230. GallinagO delicata (Ord). Wilson Snipe : Jack Snipe. 

 Bill long and slender, mandibles grooved, roughened, and widened 

 toward end ; tip of upper overreaching the 

 lower mandible ; nostril small and at edge 

 uf feathers. 



Crown buff, with side stripes of black ; 

 back mainly black with stripes falling into 

 two middle lines of buff and two outer lines 

 of whitish ; neck and breast spotted and 

 streaked with buff, brown, and dusky ; sides 

 barred with black and white ; belly white. 

 Length: 10.50-11.15, wing 4.90-5.60, bill 



f 2.50-2.70, tarsus 1.20-1.30. 



Distribution. — North America, and south 

 in winter to northern South America, breed- 

 Fig. 102. ing from Colorado and Utah to north of the 

 Arctic Circle. 

 Nest. — A grass-lined cavity in marshy ground. Eggs : 3 or 4, grayish 

 olive, spotted and streaked with bi-own and black. 



The plump jack snipe with the striped back is a prober rather 

 than a wader, as his short legs and long bill attest. He pokes about 



