SCOLOPACID.E: THE SXIPE FAMILY. 799 



such a thoroughly suipe-like genus as Macrorhamphiis, and such a thorough sandpiper as 

 Ereiinetes, into the Totanine group, instead of leaving tliem in Scolopcicime where they helong. 



Scolopacine birds arc of niediuni and small size, ranking with Plover in this respect ; none 

 attain the average stature of Herodiones. The general economy of these birds is similar to 

 that of Plover; a chief peculiarity being probably their mode of procuring food, by feelin-; for 

 it, in the majority of cases, in sand or mud with their delicately sensitive, probe-like bill. The 

 eggs are commonly 4, parti-colored, pointed at one end and broad at the other, placed with 

 the small ends together in a slight nest or more depression on tlie ground ; tlie young run 

 about at birth. The sexes, with very rare exceptions (as in tlie genus Bostratula), are alike 

 in color or nearly so; 9 usually a little larger than ^, but external sexual distinctions are 

 rarely strong (remarkable exception in Pavoncella). Color distinctions with age, likewise, 

 are rarely marked; but, on the contrary, seasonal plumages are in many cases, as among 

 Sandpipers, very strongly indicated, the nuptial dress being entirely different from that worn 

 the rest of the year. Excepting a few species that frerjuent dry open places like Plover, these 

 birds are found by the water's edge where the ground is soft and oozy — in moist thickets, low 

 rank meadows, bogs and marshes, by the riverside, and on the seashore. Some are solitary, 

 but the majority are gregarious when not breeding, and many gather in immense flocks, espe- 

 cially during the extensive migrations that nearly all perform. The voice is a mellow pipe, a 

 sliarj) bleat, or a harsh scream, according to the species. Few birds surpass Snipe in sapid 

 quality of flesh, and many kinds rank high in the estimation of sportsman and epicure. Tlie 

 family is cosmopolitan, but the majority inhabit the northern hemisphere, breeding in boreal 

 regions. There are about 90 well-determined species of Scolopacidoe, referable perhaps to 25 

 tenable genera, altiiougli many more than this are often employed. Various attempts to divide 

 the group into subfamilies have met with little success, owing to close interrelation of several 

 types. The most exceptional of these are Ibidorhi/ncha, Hostratula (or Ehi/nchfca) and I'hr- 

 goniis — if the latter be not pluvialine rather than scolopacine; aside from which, all the lead- 

 ing form.s of the family, with most of the lesser genera, are represented in this country, and 

 are indicated by the detailed descriptions given beyond; while its entire composition may lie 

 pointed out and rendered perfectly intelligible by a brief summary : 



o. The remarkable genus Bostratula (usually called Iilnjncluea) contains the Painted or 

 Golden Snipes, whereof there are three species — li. capcnsis of the Ethiopian and Oriental 

 regions, B. australis of Australia, and B. semicoUaris of South America. They have the toes 

 cleft to the base; the bill, tarsus, and middle toe with its claw of about erpial lengths; the 

 wings short and rounded. There is something suggestive of Rails in the general aspect of these 

 birds. The plumage is peculiar, and the sexual characters are extraordinary; for the females 

 are larger and handsomer than the males, do their own courting, make their mates incubate, 

 and are further peculiar in the anatomical arrangement of the windpipe, which is tortuous and 

 folded, making one or more loo])s under the skin before passing into the tlioracic cavity. The.se 

 birds form the subfamily Bostratulince (CouES, 1888: see Cent. Diet. s. v.). 



b. In Woodcock (Scoloj)a.r, Neoscolopa.v, and Philohela) and true Snipe (GaUi)in(jo) the 

 ear appears below and not behind the eye, which is placed far back and liigh up; and if the 

 lirain be examined, it will be found curiously tilted over so that its anatomical ba.se looks for- 

 ward. The bill is perfectly straight and mucli longer than head, deep-grooved to the very end, 

 which is either knobbed, or widened just behind tip, where there is a furrow in the flattened 

 culmen. The membranous covering is almndantly supplied witli nerves; this organ ctuistitiites 

 a pndje of delicate sensibility, an etKi-ient instrument of touch, u.seil to feel for food b«'lo\r the 

 sinfai'c of the ground. In the thied state, the .soft skin shrinks tiylil like parcliiiient to the 

 boiir, iiiid becomes studded with small jtits. The gape of the mouth is extremely sliort ami 

 narrow ; tlie toes are cleft to the very base ; the legs, neck, and wings are comparatively .>.|iort, 

 and tlir lioilv i< r.ithcr full. Then' an' no obvious seasonal or >.<'\-iial diir«Tences in jdumace. 



