BED-BHSASTED S^JPK 



DLMEXSIONS. 

 Averaije measiireiuenl^ of •specimens from Kiistern North America. Lengtli, 1000; <tretoli, 16 75; win;;, 515; tail, 2 SSTp 

 ' Rill, 2 55; tai-sus, 1-32. Longest spefiiiien, 11-73; gi-eatest e:stent of wing, 17-25; longest wing, 6 50; tail, 2 5(i, hill, 2-75? 

 tarsus, 1-50. Sh.ortest specimen, lX>-25; smallest extent o£ wing, 16 25; shortest wing, 5 00; tail, 2 00, hill, 2-40; tarsus, 

 1-15. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EUGS. 

 Ty/^is, placed on the ground in a slight depression of the soil, on a little grass, etc. Tliey are from two to four in num- 

 ber, inrilorm in shape, varying from, pale greenish-brown t:) yellowish-ash in color, .spotted and blotched irregularly, and 

 usually faintly, witli light reJdish-brown ami umber Dimensijus from l-05x 1-50 to 110x1 60. 



HABITS. 



There are few sportsmen, worthy of the name, who- do not know the scape of Wilson's- 

 Snipe as they ri.se from the wet meadows and pursue their rapid zigzag flight. When 

 started from a spot in which they have been feeiling, in spring. Snipe are quite apt to fly a 

 short distance, then settle down again, but in autvunn, they appear more restless and wilt 

 often circle around, high in air, calling continually until joined by several others, when all 

 will depart for some distant feeding ground. I found these Snipe very common along the 

 borders of rivers and creeks in tlie Carolinas but I never met with them so abundantly as on. 

 the marshes of Indian River in Florida. Here they perfectly swarm, two or three rising" 

 at every step of the sportsman, and after flying a short distance, will tamely settle down; 

 again. From tliis point southward, they are common and I even met with them on th& 

 borders of the fresh water ponds at Key West. Snipe migrate late in September as a rule,, 

 lingering for a time in New England and the Middle States, but by the first of November, 

 tlie greater portion have departed, yet I have frequently shot them when the ground wasi- 

 completely frozen, as they rose from the side of some open spring. 



On the Magdalen Islands, are certain swampy tracts of country, filled to a great depth 

 with a black, muddy ooze and water which is of an icy coldness. The top of this morast> 

 is in many places covered with grass, weeds, and often bushes, but which never becomes 

 firm enough to bear the weight of man. The light-footed Snipe, however, run over it with 

 ease and it is liere that they build their nests and raise their young in perfect safety. Al- 

 most any time during the day in summer, the males may be heard uttering a peculiar win- 

 nowing .sound, while they circle about, high in air, darting suddenly to- one side every tinKj 

 they give these notes. Wilson's S>m\ie also deposit their eggs in similar bogs in Northenj 

 Maine. 



(!ENUS III. JMACKORIIAMPHUS. THE MARSH SNIPES. 



(JKN. Cu. Bi/I, more limn twice as lonij as head which is small. Marginal indentations, four; outer deeper than intf 

 Coracoids, eipial in lenylh tcrheiijht of keel. 



Stomach, flat in form, quite mu.scular and lined with a finely rugose membrane. ProTentriculus, small. Cceca,quiu- 

 long. Sterno-trachealis, thin and there i.s a weak bronchialis, but no other laryngeal muscles. Tympaniform membrane. 

 present. Sexes, similar. There is but one .species within oar limits. 



MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS. 



Red-breasted Snipe. 



Macnirhainjihu.s (jriseus Lk.\cii, Cat. Brit. iMus.; 1816, 31. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tongue, very hjng, thick, fleshy, ronnded at base, grooved througlP 

 out its entire length Jiecoming thinner at tip and gradually pointed. 



