726 U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



MICROPALA^[A, Baird. 



Hemipalama, Bo.v. Synopsis, 1828, 316. Type Trini;a himantopux, Bon. Not of Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 212, which 

 includes only Trin(/a ^einipalntata ^ AVileou. 



The jiresent genus, with a basal membrane to all the anterior toes, as in Ereunefes, has this 

 a little more deeply emarginate ; the bill and legs much longer ; the former more curved. The 

 bare portion of tibia is covered before and behind by transverse scutellae, like the tarsus. The 

 tail is nearly even, with a single emargination. The middle toe is not two-thirds the length of 

 tarsus, and 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 snipe, and its true place is probably very 

 near Macrorliamplius. The legs, however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of 

 much shorter. 



A reference to the original article on Hemipalama, by Bonai:)arte, in Obs. Wilson, 1825, will 

 show that the genus was established for Tringa semipalmata, and, consequently, cannot be used 

 for the present species. 



MICROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS, (Bon.) Baird, 



stilt Sandpiper. 



Tringa himanlopus, Bon. Ann. N. Y. Lye. II, Dec. 1826, 157.— Svv. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 330.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 



183S, 332; pi 344.— Ib. Syu. 23.5.— In. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 271 ; pi 334. 



Tringa (^Hemipalama) hirmntopus, Bonap. Specchio Comp. 1827, No. 1&7. — Ib. Kya 1828, 316. — Ib. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 



89; pi. XXV.— NuTT. Man. II, 138. 



Hemipalama himanlopns, Bon. List, 1838. 



? Tringa clougUmi, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 379; pi. Ixvi. 



Tringa {Hemipalama) auduhonii, Nuttall, Man II, 1834, 140. (Based on description of Tririga himantopus, in F. B. Am.) 



Hemipalama muUislriala, "Licht." G. R. Gray, Genera, III, 578. 



Figures. — Sw. and Rich. Faun. Bor. Am. II, pi. 66. — Aud. B. of Am. pi. 344, Oct. ed. V, pi. 334.— Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, pi. 

 25, fig. 3. 



Sp. Ch. — Legs long, slender ; toes slender, united at base with webs, the outer of which is the larger ; hind toe small. Bill 

 'ong, somewhat arched, slender, much compressed, expanded, and flattened at the tip, which is minutely punctulnted aud 

 corrugated: wings long, pointed ; tail short; middle feathers hiugost; outer feathers freijueutly longer than the next; under 

 coverts long; lower half of the tibia naked. Upper parts brownish black, nearly all the feathers edged with ashy white and 

 yellowish red ; narrow band from above the eye to the occiput bright brownish red, (inclosing the brownish black of the top of 

 the head ; spot on the ears the same red ; rump aud upper tail coverts white, with transverse narrow stripes and pointed spots of 

 brownish black. Under parts ashy white, tinged with pale reddish, with numerous longitudinal stripes of brownish black on the 

 neck, and with transverse stripes of the same on the other under parts; axillary feathers white ; under wing coverts ashy white; 

 bill and legs greenish black. 



Ymmg :> Very slight traces of the red on the ears and occiput; lino from the base of the bill over the eye white; entire upper 

 plumage paler and more tinged with ashy than in the preceding. Entire under parts pale ashy white, tinged with dull yellow, 

 and with small and obscure spots of dark brownish on the breast; abdomen, and under tail coverts nearly pure white, (without 

 the transverse stripes, as in the preceding plumage;) rump and upper tail coverts white. 



Total length, about 8^0 9 inches ; wing, 5^ ; tail, 2^ ; bill, \% ; tarsus, \% inches. 



Hah. — Eastern North America. 



This curious and very- remarkable sandpiper appears to be restricted to the countries east of 

 the Rocky mountains. We have no doubt that all the above given names apply to one species, 

 though amongst numerous specimens before us there are some differences in size and length of 

 legs, but not sufficient for specific character. 



