150 NORTH AMERICAS BIRDS. 



Genus PHILOMELA Gray. (Page 147, pi. XLV., fig. 2.) 

 Species. 

 Adult: Occiput with three transverse bands of bhick alternating with three 

 much narrower ones of ochraceous, or yellowish rusty ; upper parts varied with 

 pale asbj-, rustj", and black, the latter in form of large spots ; quills plain brownish 

 gra)*; head, except as described above, chiefly plain cinnamon-ashy, relieved by a 

 dusky line from corner of mouth to ej-es and another across ear-coverts; lower 

 parts plain light cinnamon, much tinged with light ashj-. Downy young : General 

 color light rustj' buff, unvaried on lower parts ; broad stripe down rump, and other 

 markings on upper parts verj- dark chestnut, or seal-brown. Length 10.50-11.75, 

 wing 4.80-5.70, culmen 2.50-nearly 3.00, tarsus 1.25, middle toe 1.37. Ecjtjs 1.51 X 

 1.14, short ovate or rounded ovate, butty, spotted with rusty brown and purplish 

 gray. Hab. Eastern United States, north to Briti.sh Provinces, west to the Plains; 

 accidental in Bermudas 228. P. minor (Gmel.). American Woodcock. 



Genus GALLINAGO Leach. (Page 147, pi. XLV., fig. 2.) 



Species. 

 Common Characters. — Tail with a subterminal band of rufous, succeeded by a 

 black bar; top of head blackish, divided mediallj- by a line of pale buff; feathers of 

 back, etc., blackish, broadl}- edged exteriorly with pale buff; under wing-coverts, 

 axillars, and sides shai-ply and broadly barred with slate-color on a pure white 

 ground ; length 10.00-12.00. Eggs pale olive, olive-grayish, or pale olive-brown, 

 heavily spotted, especially on larger end, with deep brown and purplish gray. 



«'. Tail-feathers usually 14 ; under M-ing-coverts with white prevailing, the dark 

 bars everywhere narrower than the white interspaces ; culmen usually more 

 than 3.80; wing 5.00-5.30, culmen 2.80-3.00, tarsus 1.25-1.45, middle too 

 1.15-1.40; outer tail-feathers much broader than in G. delicata. Eggs 1.57 

 X I.IL I!i>b. Europe and northern Asia and Africa; accidental in Bermu- 

 das, and occasional in Greenland. 



229. G. gallinago (Linn.). European Snipe. 



a''. Tail-feathers usually 16; under wing-coverts everywhere broadlj' burred with 

 slate-color, these bars, as well as those on the axillars, nearly as broad as the 

 white interspaces; culmen usuall}' less than 2.75; wing 4.90-5.60, culmen 

 2.50-2.70, tarsus 1.20-1.30, middle too 1.10-1.35. Eggs 1.55 X 109. Ilab. 

 Whole of North and Middle America, and West Indies, and northern South 

 America; breeding from northern Lnited States noi-tliward. 



230. G. delicata (Ord). Wilson's Snipe. 



Genis MACRORHAMPHUS Leach. (Page 140, pi. XLYL, fig. 1.) 

 Species. 

 Common Characters. — I\uiiip and upper tail-coverts white, the former witn 

 U- or V-shaped marks, the hitter with transverse bars, of dusky ; tail grayish dusky, 



