BIRDS — SCOLOPACIDAK — nilLOHKLA MINOR. 



70;) 



PIIILOHELA, . R. Gray. 



Philchtia, Grat, List of Genora, 1841. Typo Sco/c/mi minor, Gsi. 



Kiislicvla, Grat, Genera, 1840, nol of Moehring, 1752. 



Micropltra, NoTTAi.L, Man. II, 1834, 192, not of Gravonhorst, 1802. 



Cii. — Body very full, and head, bill, and eyes very largo. Tibia short, feathered to tlio joint. Toes cleft to base. Wings 

 ■hort, rounded. First three priincrios very narrow and much attenuated ; the fourth and fifth equal and longest. Tarsi stout, 

 shorter than the middle toe. Hind nail very short, conical, not extending beyond tho toe. Tail of twelve fealliors. 



The present genus, embracing a single species, the American woodcock, is much like Scolopax, 

 with the European woodcock as type, in color and external appearance. The most striking 

 diflerence is seen in the wings, which are short, rounded ; the fourth and fifth primaries 

 longest and the outer three attenuated, while in Scolopax the wings are long ; the first primary- 

 longest and more attenuated. 



PHILOHELA MINOR, (Gmelin,) Gray. 



American Woodcock. 



Scolopax minor, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, G61.— Wils. Am. Orn. VI, 1812, 40 ; pi. 48.— Add. Orn. Biog. IV, 



1835, 474 ; pi. 2G8.— Dougiity's Cab. N. H. I, 183(), 158 ; pi. xiv. 

 Rustkola minor, Vieillot, " Analyse, 1816."— GaL. Ois. II, 112 ; pi. cc.xlii.— Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 194. 

 Scolopax (.Microplera) minor, Nhttali., Man. II, 1834, 194. 

 Philuhela minor. Gray, List Genera, 1841. 

 Microplera americnna, AcD. Syn 1839, 250.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 15 ; pi. 352. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill long, comprcs.-!ed, punctulated and corrugated near the end ; upper mandible longer than the under, and fitted 

 to it at tho tip ; wings moderate, three first quills very narrow ; tail short ; legs moderate ; eyes inserted unusually distant from 

 the bill. Occiput with three transverse bands of black, alternating with three others of pale yellowish rufous ; upper parts of 

 body variegated with pale ashy, rufous, or yellowish red of various shades, and black ; large space in front and throat reddish 

 ashy ; line from the e^o to the bill, and another on the neck below the eye, brownish black ; entire utider parts pale rufous, 

 brighter on the sides and under wing coverts. Quill.^ ashy brown ; tail feathers brownisli black, tipped with ashy, darker on the 

 upper surface, paler and frequently white on the under ; bill light brown, paler and yellowish at base ; legs pale reddish. Total 

 length about 11 inches; wing, 5^ ; tail, 2| ; bill, 2i ; tarsus, Ij inches. 



//aft. — Biistern North America. 



List of specimens. 



