124 BIRDS. 



Ashy above, variegated; rump and under parts white; 

 sides of neck with a black stripe which changes to chest- 

 nut below. Northern reoions. 



FAMILY LV. — SCOLOPACID^. 



{The Snipe.) 



Bill elongated, usually longer than the head; if short 

 not plover - like, being soft - skinned throughout (hard 

 when dry); nasal grooves narrow channels ranging 

 from half to nearly the whole length of the bill; 

 sides of lower mandible usually also grooved; nostrils 

 narrow exposed slits; head feathered. Wings usually 

 thin and pointed ; tail short and soft ; tibiae rarely 

 entirely feathered. Tarsus never entirely reticulate and 

 usually scutellate in front and behind; hind toe present 

 (except in C alidris)\ front toes cleft or slightly webbed; 

 size medium or small. Sexes alike or female slightly 

 larger ; seasonal changes in plumage often strongly 

 marked. Eggs usually four, placed with the small ends 

 together in a slight nest or depression in the ground; 

 notes various; mostly migratory or gregarious. Genera 

 fifteen or more, species about ninety; chiefly of northern 

 regions, but some species in most parts of the world. 



* Toes 3. Calidris, 8. 



** Toes 4. 



f Tarsus sciitellate in front only; bill slender, decurved, very 

 much longer than tlie head. . . . Numenius, 15. 



ff Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. 



% Feet semipalmate; toes somewhat webbed at base. 



a Tail barred crosswise, with light and dark colors. 



6. Gape not reaching be3'^ond base of culmen. 



c. Culmen furrowed ; length less than 12. 



Macrorhamphus, 4. 



