SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY. 41 



emargination. The middle toe is not two thirds the length of 

 the 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 genus approaches the Snipe, and its 

 true place is probably very near Macrorkamphus. The legs, 

 however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of much 

 shorter." ( Water />'. W. Am.) 



Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.) 



STILT SANDPIPER. 

 Popular synonyms. Long-legged Sandpiper; Frost Snipe (coast Connecticut). 

 Tringa himantopus Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii. 1826. 157.-Sw. &Rich. F. B.-A. ii. 1831, 

 380-Aud. Orn. Biog. ii, 1838, 332, pi. 334; Synop. 1839, 235; B. Am. v. 1842. 271, pi. 334. 

 Tringa [Hemipalama) himantopus Bonap. 1827— Nutt. Man. ii. 1834, 138. 

 Micropalamalhimantopus Baibd, B. N. Am. 1858, 726; Cat. N. Am. B . 1859, No. 536- 

 Coues, Key, 1872, 253; Check List, 1874, No. 416; 2d ed. 1882, No. 611; Birds N. W. 

 1874. 480-Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 528; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 152.-B. B. & 

 R. Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 201— A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 233. 

 Tringa douglasii Sw. & Rich. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 379, pi. 66. 



Tringa (Hemipalama) douglasii'SvTE. Man. ii, 1834, 141. 

 Tringa {Hemipalama) andv.boni Nutt. 1. c. 141. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North America, Middle America, and greater part of South 

 America; breeding north of the United States and visiting the southern localities in 

 winter; Bermudas; West Indies, in generaJ; Brazil; Peru. Not recorded from west of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



Sp. Chab. A 'hilt, sum mer plumage: Above, variegated with black, whitish gray, and 

 pale buff, the first prevailing on the back and scapulars; wings rather dark gray, the 

 feathers edged with paler; primaries dusky slate; rump grayish, the feathers with darker 

 centres; upp»u- tail-covers white, the longer ones barred, the anterior ones longitudinally 

 marked, with dusky. Middle tail-feathers light gray, the others varied longitudinally with 

 white and pale gray. Pilcum dusky, streaked with whitish; a dark brown loral stripe, from 

 base of maxilla to the eyes; aurioulars and patch on each side of the occiput. light cinna- 

 mon-rufous. Lower parts dirty white, the throat and jugulum streaked, other portions 

 transversely barred with dusky. Lining of the wing, and axillars, white, the latter slightly 

 marked with gray. Adult in winter: Above, uniform ash-gray, the upper tail-coverts, tail 

 andwingsas in the summer plumage Superciliary stripe and lower parts white, the 

 nigulum, sides of neck, and crissum. streak, d with gray. Young: Back and scapulars 

 blackish, all the feathers widely bordered with bully white; the middle of the back tinged 

 with rusty; wing-coverts bordered with pale buff and white; upper tail-QOveite nearly im- 

 maoulate white. Pileum streaked with dusky, pal.' buff, and grayish; nap.' nearly uniform 

 ash-gray. died white, the breast and sides more • ongly suffused 



with bnff, the jugulum, sides of the i k, and Banks, Indistinctly Btreaked with grayish. 



"Bill black; bis brown; f".-i dull yellowish green, claws black." (Audi 



Wingabou oulmen, 1.60-1.76; tarsus.1.50 L.75; mm ^k85. 



We have no data a1 hand regarding the abundance of this 

 species in Illinois, i.nt it is in all probability ;i more or less 

 common migranl . 



"It moves in c pad Hocks, and often when aboul to alight, or 



after being disturbed, it inclines the body to either side, showing 

 -«; 



