THE LONG-BILLED DOW'ITCHER. 649 



Nesting. — Does not breed in A\'ashington. Xest: on the ground. Eggs: 4, 

 like those of preceding species. Av. size, 1.74x1.21 (44.2x30.8) (Ridgw. ). 



General Range. — Western North America, breeding in Alaska to the Arctic 

 Coast; migrating south in winter thru the western United States (including 

 Mississippi Valley) to Mexico and, less commonly, along the Atlantic Coast. 



Range in Washington. — Regular migrant along the coast and on Puget 

 Sound; less comnKm in the interior (Hoover, May 3, 1907). 



Authorities. — Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, p. 713. "Washington 

 Territor)- (Dr. Suckley).'" [C&S. 238, under M. grisciis — specimen described 

 unquestionably referable to M. s.] T. L-. Rh. B. 



Specimens. — {V. of A\'. i F'rov. B. 



AT first sight, and upon the ground, the iJowitcher might be mistaken 

 for a Wilson Snii)e, but immediately we ha\-e conceded so nnich, points of dif- 

 ference bristle into view. At rest the Dowitchers never think of hiding in the 

 grass, as does the Jack Snipe, for they feed instead along in the c:)pen on the 

 muddy bank of a stream, or upon the sand-bars which emerge as the tide goes 

 out. Nor do the_\' wait altogether f(_ir the water to retire, jjut wade in and 

 l)robe the bottom to the limit of their legs and bills. In flight thev mc)\e 

 swift!}' and directly, usually at a slight distance from the ground, and one 

 catches flashes of white from the lower back and rump, which set all doubts as 

 to identit}- at rest. 



Dowitchers are very fond of company, and usually mo\-e about in small 

 flocks numbering from half a dozen to a score of individuals. Thev are fond, 

 too, of imposing their C()mpan_\- upon other snipe peojile, and seldom do thev 

 neglect an opportunity of attaching tliemselves to a flock of Curlews or 

 Plovers, or any of the smaller Sand])ii)ers. Once when I was le\'elling at a 

 trio of Black-bellied Pli)\'ers ( Sqinitarahi squatarola ) . and had nn- head l)uried 

 under a focusing cloth, I was surprised upon looking up to find as man\- more 

 unbidden guests,- motionless, as is the wont of birds just lighted, and in\-isible 

 u])on the ground-glass by reason of their similaril}' tij the background of 

 sand. 



These plain birds are modest, as becomes their attire, gentle, and unwarv. 

 save as cruelly disciplined by the gunner. They possess, too, that fatal gift of 

 sympath}-, which bids them tarry for their fallen comrades, and afl:'ords the 

 gunner a second opportunity. 



This species may undoubtedly be fmmd upon the borders of lakes in 

 Eastern Washington during niigratir)ns. Imt it is much more common on Puget 

 Sound and ali:)ng the Straits of Juan de Fuca in April and September. Suckley 

 regarded them as summer residents near Fort Steilacoom, and cites the ex- 

 ample of a female killed on the 5th of May, which from the appearance of her 

 plumage he thought to be a sitting bird. But there are no recent instances and 

 the obser\er might have been mistaken in his conclusions. 



