BIRDS — SCOLOPACIDAE GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA. 731 



GAMBETTA, Kaup. 



Oamhetta, Kahp, Entw. Europ. Thierw 1829. Type Scolopax calidris, L. (Gray.) 

 Cll. — Bill much attenuated towards and tapering to the end, the extreme tip decurved, both culmen and gony? however, 

 bent upwards from the middle; the lateral grooves of upper bill broad, shallow, and not extending to the middle; that of lower 

 reaching about as far. Feathers on side of both mandibles extend to about the same point, but fall short of nostrils ; those on 

 chin extend as far as middle of nostril. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, which is 1 J times the length of middle toe. Outer 

 toe webbed to first joint ; the inner web very short ; bare portion of the tibia equal to the toes i tip of tail about opposite the 

 middle of outstretched tarsi; legs yellow. 



It is a question whether the American yellow legged sandpipers really belong to Gamhetta or 

 to Glottis. They agree with the latter in the upward bend of the bill, and with the former in 

 not having the legs green. 



GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, (am.) Bon. 

 Tell Tale ; Stone Snipe. 



Scolopax melandeucus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659. 



Tolanus mekmokucus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. 1816.— Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 750.— Add. Om. Biog. IV, 1838, 68 ; pi. 308, 



Gambetta melanoleuca, Bon. Comptes Rendus, Sept. 1856. 



Scolopax vocifems, Wilson, Am. Om. VII, 1813, 57 ; pi. Iviii. 



Totama vociferm, Add. Syn. 244.— Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 316; pi. 345. 



Tolanus sasashew, Vieillot, Diet. 1816. 

 Sp. Ch. — Bill longer than the head, rather slender, curved towards the tip; wings rather long, first quill longest; tail short; 

 neck and legs long ; toes moderate, margined and flattened underneath, connected at base by membranes, the larger of which 

 unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; claws short, blunt ; grooves in both mandibles extending about half their length. 

 Entire upper parts cinereous of various shades, dark in many specimens in full plumage, generally light with white lines on the 

 head and neck and with spots and edgings of dull white on the other upper parts ; lower back brownish black ; rump and upper 

 tail coverts white, generally with more or less imperfect transverse narrow bands of brownish black ; under parts white, with 

 longitudinal narrow stripes on the neck and transverse crescent lanceolate and sagittate spots and stripes i in the breast and 

 Bides ; abdomen pure white ; quills brownish black with a purplish lustre, shaft of first primary white, secondaries and tertiaries 

 tipped and with transverse bars and spots of ashy white ; tail white, with transverse narrow bands of brownish black, wider and 

 darker on the two middle feathers ; bill brownish black, lighter at the base; legs yellow. 

 Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7J to 8 ; tail, 3J to 3i ; bill, 2^ ; tarsuSj 2J inches. 

 Ilab — Entire temperate regions of North America ; Mexico. 



A large and handsome species, abundant throughout the United States. 



