736 



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



a green 1 etre ; primaries eligbtly tipped with wliite, and having a white spot oa tlieir inner edges; secondaries white at their 

 bases, and tipped with white ; middle feathers of the tail same green as other upper parts ; outer tipped with white, and with 

 irregular bars of brownish black. Bill yellowish green, tipped with brown; feet reddish yellow. 



Young less bronzed above, and under parts white, without spots. 



Total length, 7J to 8 inches ; wing, 4^ ; tail, 2 ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, rather less than 1 inch. 



llab. — Entire temperate North America ; Oregon. Europe. 



Diffused throughout the United States, resorting, in the winter season, to the southern con- 

 fines of the republic, and extending its range into Mexico and Central America. This little 

 bird has so frequently been noticed in Europe that it is now given as a species of that con- 

 tinent by nearly all late authorities. 



List of specimens. 



rHILOMACIIUS, Moehring. 



rhilvmaclius, Moeiirinc, Genera Avium, ITfiS, 76. Type Trlmja jmgnax, L. 



Maclieles, Cuviek, K. Amor. 1H17. 

 Ch. — Bill nearly straight; as long as the head or the outer toe. Groove of bill extending nearly to the tip. Bill 

 depressed, broad to the tip, which is scarcely expanded. Gape extending a little further back than the culmen ; the feathers 

 of lower mandibles extending rather further forward than those of upper; those of chin still further. Legs slender; tarsus I.i 

 times as long as middle toe, IJ times the length of bare tibia. A basal web connecting the outer and middle toes to the first 

 joint of the former; inner toe cleft to base. Tail rather long; distinctly barred. 



This genus, usually placed among Tringeae, aj)pears to have most afTinity with the present 

 section, ,nd in a measure to connect Tringoides and Aciiturus. The bill is more depressed, and 

 rather broader to the end than usual ; but it appears hard and firm, and with little or none of 

 the spoon-shaped expansion at the end. The greater cleft of tlio mouth, the hall' webbing of 

 the toes, the bars on the tail, the lengtliened tarsi, &c., all seem to indicate the j)ropriety of 

 placing it with Toianeae. 



