SCOLOPACID.E: THE SXIPE FAMILY. 



801 



d. The Godwits (Limosa), in which we find the same very long, wholly grooved, and 

 extremely sensitive bill, wliich, however, is not dilated at end, nor furrowed on culmen, and is 

 bent sligJitly upward ; the gape, as before, is exceedingly constricted. Tiie toes show a basal 

 web. These are rather large birds, witli ctdors and general aspect of Curlews, but bill not de- 

 curved, and tarsi scutellate behind. They frequent marshes, bays, and estuaries, and are among 

 the miscellaneous assortment of birds collectively designated "Bay-snipe." There are only .j 

 or 6 species, of the single genus Limosa. 



e. Sandpipers {Tringa, etc.) are a rather extensive group, notable for the variation in 

 minor details of form shown with almost every species — a fact that has caused the erec- 

 tion of a number of Tmnecessary genera. Here the bill retains much of the sensitiveness of a 

 Snipe's, and tlie gajie is likewise restricted ; but the bill is much shorter, averaging about equal 



Fio. 557. — American Snipe, about J nat. size. (Kroiu Aiiieri.'aii hieia 



to head. One tiivial feature affords a good clew to this gnuip: tiie tail-featln-r^ an- plain- 

 colored, or with simple edgings, while in almost all species of other groups these featlu-rs are 

 barred crosswise. In Sandpipers .seasonal changes of i)lumage are very great ; proportion.'^ of 

 legs and webbing of toes are variable witli tlie species, but the toes are cleft to base (except in 

 JMicroprdama and Ereunctes), and 4 in nunib«'r (except in C(didiis). Sandpipers belong par- 

 ticularly to the Nortliern Hemisphere, and breed in hiirli latitudes; they perform I'Xten.sive 

 migrations, and in winter spread over most of the world. Among tliein are the most diminu- 

 tive of waders. Tliey are ])robably witiiout exception gregarious, and often Heck tlie beach in 

 vast multitudes; they live by preference in open wet places, ratlier than in fens and marshes, 

 and feed by ])r<d)iiii:, like Snipe; the voice is mellow and piping. They are pntty widl distin- 

 guished from Snipe and Godwits, though Micropidmun connects them with Miicrurham/thiis 

 and Liiiw.sfi; but shade directly into Tattlers, throngli suc-li genera as Tnjngites and AvlUig. 

 Nearly all the genera of Sandpipers are de.^icribed in detail beyond. Tiiere are about *i> sperieij. 

 One generic form of true Sandpiper not represented in this country is the Hroad- billed /-ii/n'co/a 



61 



