EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. 221 



nose was within a few feet of her, got up as silently as possible, her idea evidently being to steal away 

 unobserved. 



GALINAGO MEDIA. 

 European Snipe. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, size and general markings similar to Wilson's Snipe, but the under wing covf^ts are 

 white, with faint indications only of bandings, and the sides are n)t as regularly banded. Occurs in Europe 

 and in Greenland. Eggs do not difler fr<iin those of the Wilson Snipe. 



Macrorhampus griseusscolopaDeus. 

 Western Red-breasted Snipe. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si'B. Sp. Ch. Similar to the Red-breasted Snipe, but with a decidedly larger and longer bill. This is 

 the inly difference in winter and in immature birds, but adults in summerare cinnamiin throughout, beneath, 

 not whitish on the abdnncn as in the eastern form, and there are few or no spots on the breast. Occurs 

 west of the Mississippi to the Pacific but not uncommon in migration along the Atlantic sea bound. Winters 

 in Florida. Since writing the remarks made under Ob-ervations in the first edition of this book I have 

 €.xaraineilad liti jnal material and have decided that the status of the Western Red-breasted Snipe as a sub- 

 species is correct. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length. 11 2."^ to 1-3.50; extent of wing, IH r,0 to lll-jO ; wing, .Ifi.j to 5.8.1: tail, 2.G.3 to 2.70; bill, 

 2.DOtoo.2i3; tarsus, 1.51 to 1.65. 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICULA. 

 European Woodcock. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Siv Cfi. Fnrm similar to that of the American Woodcock, excepting that the outer primaries are not 

 attenuated. Size, large. Color. Top and back of head brown of a dark and light shade, crossed trans- 

 versely by three or four bands of pale brown. Ab.ive each feather is varied with black and chestnut, the 

 blark usually forming a large sub-terndnal spot. There is a tendency, to form \'cllowish gray scapulaiy 

 stri.ies Wiu.:;^, blackish brown, ban led with dark chestnut bars. Upper tail coverts, rich chestnut. Tail, 

 black tipped with grayish. Browiush white beneath, banded with dusky. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Distinguished at once from our common Woodcock of the large size, lack of attenuation on the outer 

 l>rim ries. an 1 bande 1 under parts. This bird is a well known European species but has been taken in 

 Eistern N irth .Vmerica ujion several occasions. First recorded from New Jersey and Rhode Island by 

 Oeorge W. Lawrence, in 1SG6 ; by Lewis, from New .Jersey, lS68;Rand, Newfoundland, I8(i6; Coues 

 Vii-ginia, 187'!. Thus it becomes entitled ■to a place in our fauna. Eggs, are similar to those of the Ameri- 

 can Woodcock but larger and possibly redder in shade. Size, 1.50 and l.^W. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Length, 12.50; wing, 7.O0 ; tail, ;J..50 ; bill, 2.75 ; tarsus, 1.25. 



NoT^s ON THE Stilt S.^ndpiper. The first week in April, 188G, I found this bird common on Indian 

 lliver and about the flats at the head of Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. They were associathig with otiier shore 



