SCOLOPA CID^E : SANDPIPERS. 



809 



Greater Gray-back. Greater Long-beak ; and all the other names of the foregoing. 

 Like the last; more highly colored; averaging larger; bill especially longer (see above). 

 Weight 2 oz. 7 dr. to 4 oz. 4 dr. Entire under parts rich riisty-red, including belly ; throat 

 and breast less speckled, sides and Hanks thickly barred, with dusky. Winter and immature 

 specimens indistinguishable from the last, excepting those surpassing maximum size of the 

 latter. N. Am. at large, supposed to be rare or casual on the Atlantic side, and declared to be 

 the only representative of the genus in the West — which would be important if it were a fact. 

 Like the last, it is abundant ; migratory ; breeds in higli latitudes, Alaska, British Columbia. 



Fio. 563. — Western Red-breasted Suipe. (From Seebolini's Cliaradriidae.) 



Females of both are larger than males. Both generally iiy in large compact flocks, like Sand- 

 pipers and shore-birds generally, rather than singly or in wisps like true Snipe ; and prefer 

 sliores of bays and estuaries, instead of wet meadows. Lggs of this bird and the other are not 

 peculiar among their allies; 3-4 in number; l.r).'>-1.75 X 1.10-1.15; ground-coK>r as in Gal- 

 linago, general tone and style of markings the same. The A. 0. U. makes this a full species. 

 M. scolopaceus, A. 0. U. Lists, No. '2-i2. 



(§ 3. Sandjyipers.) 

 3IICROPA'LAMA. (Gr. fiiKpos, mikros, small; irdkafxr], ])alame, a web.) Stilt Sand- 

 pipers. Bill much as in the last genus, but shorter, less evidently widened at end and not so 

 distinctly furrowed on top, sometimes perceptibly curved. Wings long, pointed, 1st primary 

 longest, rest rajtidly graduated. Tail about half as long as wing, slightly doubly-emartrinate. 

 Legs very long; tibiae bare an inch; tarsus as long as bill. Feet semipalmate; front toos 

 connected by 2 evident basal webs. Plumage resembling that of Macrorhumphtts in general 

 character; its changes the same; sexes alike. These two genera are perfect links between 

 Siiip(( and Sandpipers. One species. 



M. hiinaii'topus. (Gr. iyiavTonovs, liimantojwnn, strap-le^Tged. Figs. 'y(\\, 5«5.").) Stilt 

 Sanupii'ER. Adult <?9, in summer: Above, blackish, eacii feather edged and tippeil with 

 wliite and tawny or bay, which on scapulars becomes scalloped. Auriculars chestnut ; a dusky 

 line from bill to eye, and a light reddish superciliary one ; upper tail-coverts white with dusky 

 bars. Primaries dusky with blackish tips ; fail-feathers 12, ashy-gray, their edges and a cen- 

 tral field white; under ])arts mixed reddish, black, and whiti.sh, in streaks on jticnlum, else- 

 where in bars; bill and feet greenish-black. Lm-rth H..")(M.».(M» ; extent Ui.(K)-17.(K»; wing 



