BlrtDS — SCOLOPACIDAE GAMBETTA MKLANOLEUCA. 731 



GAMBETTA, Kaup. 



Gambetia, K*if, Eiitw. Kiirop. Tliierw ISii). Type Scolopax culiJru, L. (Gray.) 

 Cll. — Bill uiuch atcvnuftted towarJit and tapering to the end, the extreme tip decurvud, both culoien and gonyi* however, 

 bvnt iipuardii Truiu the middle ; the latertil grDovvti uf upper bill broud, shidluw, and not extending to the miildle; lliat of lower 

 reaohiui; abuut as far. Keathers on eide of both niandiblen extend to about the eaine point, but full short of noKtriln ; those on 

 chin extend as far as middle of nostril. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, which id 1.] tiuies iIid k-iiKtli of middle toe. Outer 

 toe webbed to first joint ; the inner web very short ; bare portion of the tibia ecjual to the toes ; tip of tail abuut opposite the 

 middle of outstretched tarsi; legs yellow. 



It is a question whether the American yellow legged sandpipers really belong to Gamhetla or 

 to Glottis. They agree with the latter in the upward bend of the bill, and witli the former in 

 not having the legs green. 



GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, (Gm.) Bon. 

 Tell Tale; Stoue Snipe. 



Scolcpax melanoleucus, Gmelix, Syst. Nat. 1, 176S, 659. 



Totanusmelanoleucut, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. 181G.— Lioht. Verz. 1823, No. 750.— Auu. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 68; pi. 308. 



Gamhetla milanolaica, Bon. Comptes Kendus, Sept. 1856. 



Scolopax vociferus, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 57 ; pi. Iviii. 



Totanui voci/erus, Ahd. Syn. 244.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 316; pi. 345. 



Totaniu sasaahtw, Vikili.ot, Diet. 1816. 

 Sp. Ch. — BUI longer than the head, rather slender, curved towards the tip; wings rather long, first quill longest; tail short; 

 neck and legs long, toes moderate, margined and flattened underneath, counected at base by meiubriines, the larger of which 

 unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small ; claws short, blunt ; grooves in both mandibles extending about half their length. 

 Entire upper parts cinereous of various shades, dark in ninny specimens in full plumage, generally light with white lines on the 

 head and neck and with spots and edgings of dull white on the other upper parts ; lower back brownish black ; rump and upper 

 tail coverts white, generally with more or less imperfect transverse narrow bands of brownish black ; under parts white, with 

 longitudinal narrow stripes on the neck and transverse crescent lanceolate and sagittate spots and stripes nn the breast and 

 sides ; abdomen pure white ; quills browuis-h black with a purplish lustre, shaft of first primary white, secondaries and tertiaries 

 tipped and with transverse bars and spots of ashy white ; tail white, with transverse narrow bands of brownish black, wider and 

 darker on the two middle feathers ; bill brownish black, lighter at the base ; legs yellow. 

 Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7 J to 8 ; tail, 3.^ to 3^ ; bill, 2\ ; tarsus, 2i inches. 

 Bab — Entire temperate regions of North America ; Mexico. 



A large and handsome species, abundant throughout the United States. 



