708 U. S. p. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



Family SCOLOPACIDAE. 



On a preceding page will be found the principal character of the Scolopacidae as distinguished 

 from the Charadridae, Haemaiopodidae, Recur virostridae, and Phalaropodidae. According 

 to Bonnparte's arrangement, the Scolopacidae are divisible into two sub-i'amilies — Scolopa'.inae 

 and Tringinae ; the former with one tribe, Scolopaceae ; the latter with four, Tringinae, Totaneae, 

 Limosinae, and Nurmninae. The arrangement of Keyserling and Blasius and of Burmeister, 

 however, seems more natural in associating Trivgeae with Scolopaceae under Scolopacinae. On 

 this basis the two sub-families may be characterized as follows : 



Scolopacinae. — Bill covered with soft skin to the sensitive, vascular, thickened, or laterally 

 expanded tip. Uncovered portion of tibia short. Body and legs rather stout. Neck rather 

 short and stout. Toes generally cleft to the base, (not in Macrorhamphus and Micropalama, &c.) 

 Gape of mouth very small, not extending beyond the base of culmen. 



ToTANiNAE. — Bill covered with soft skin towards the base ; the terminal portion hard, horny, 

 and more or less attenuated. Body more slender. Legs and neck slender and lengthened. 

 Toes generally with a basal web. Gape of mouth larger, always extending beyond base of 

 culmen, (except in Limosa.) 



Sub-Family SCOLOPACINAE. 



Cii. — Bill swollen at tlie end, and covered almost to the tip with a soft skin, the edges only of the rather vaulted tip horny. 

 The end of tlie upper bill generally bent a little over the tip of lower. The jaw bone in typical genera finely porous, and 

 perfiirated by vessels and nerves, imparting a high degree of sensibility to the bill, enabling it to find food in the mud. After 

 death the end of bill is usually pitted. Legs rather stout ; the naked portion of the tibia much abbreviated. The hind toe well 

 developed and generally present ; the toes usually wiiliout basal membrane, (except in Macrorhamplins, &c.) 



Under the head of Scolopacinae, as at present defined, I range two tribes, with the following 

 brief diagnoses : 



A. Scolopaceae. — Bill much longer than the head or than the naked leg ; the end of upper 

 jaw thickened and bent over beyond the tip of lower. Koof of mouth not excavated to the tip. 

 A longitudinal furrow along the culmen towards the end. External ear placed beneath or 

 anterior to the eye. Tail banded ? 



B. Tringeae. — Bill shorter than the naked leg, widened or rather spoon-shaped at the end, 

 with the edges not bent over. Roof of mouth excavated to the tip. No groove along the 

 culmen. Ear behind the eye. Tail without bands ? 



Tribe SCOLOPACEAE. 



The general characters of the Scolopaceae have already been given. The genera found in 

 North America belonging here are as follows : 



A. Toes cleft to the base. Tarsi shorter than middle too." 



Philohela. — Tibia feathered to the lower joint. Wings short, much graduated ; the 



three outer prim^aries much attenuated. 

 Gallinago. — Lower part of tibia naked. Wings lengthened; the outer primaries longest. 



B. Toes united at the base. Tarsi longer than middle toe. 



MACROKnAMPiius. — Somewhat like Gallinago, but the middle and outer toes united to the 

 first joint. 



