156 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



seen several hundred gathered in such close rank that they entirely 

 concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 



232. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus {>Sai/). Long-billed Dow- 

 itciier; Western Dowitcher. Ad. in summer. — Similar to the preceding, 

 but averaging larger; the bill especially is longer, the under parts are more 

 uniformly rufous, and the sides are more heavily barred with black. Ad. in 

 winter and Im. — To be distinguished from the corresponding stages of M. gri- 

 seus only by their larger size. W., 6-00 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 2-10-2-90. 



Range. — " Mississippi Valley and western province of North America froiii 

 Mexico to Alaska ; less common, but of regular occurrence along the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States" (A. O. U.). 



Washington, casual, seven shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. 



Eggs., four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding species. 



This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our 

 coasts as a rare but regular late fall migrant. It resembles the pre- 

 ceding species in habits, but the baymen who " gun " for Snipe say 

 they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Wood- 

 cock, Wilson's Snipe, and its near ally, 31. griseus, the male utters a 

 flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. 

 Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 



233. Micropalama himantopus (Boi/ap.). Stilt Sandpiper. 

 Ad. in summer.— Vp-per parts black, bordered with grayish and buffy ; ear- 

 coverts and an indistinct line around the back of the head rufous ; second- 

 aries grayish, edged with white ; primaries fuscous ; rump ashy : upper tail- 

 coverts barred with black and white ; outer tail-feathers with broken dusky 

 bars, inner ones with central streaks or margins of brownish gray or white ; 

 under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ad. in winter. — Upper parts 

 brownish gray ; upper tail-coverts wJiite ; tail white, margined with brownish 

 gray; under parts white; the throat, neck, and sides indistinctly streaked or 

 washed with grayish, Im. — Similar to the preceding, but the upper parts black- 

 ish, margined with ochraccous-buff. L., 8-25 ; W., 5-00 ; Tar., 1-60 ; B., 1-55. 



Remarks. — The distinguishing characters of this species are the flattened, 

 pitted tip of the bill, in connection with the very long tarsi. 



Range. — Eastern North America, bi'ceding within the Arctic Circle, and 

 wintering as far south as South America. 



Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; 

 July to Oct. 10. 



Eggs., three to four, pale grayish buff', or grayish buff"y white, boldly spotted 

 with ^-ich vandyke-brown and purplish gray, 1-42 x 1-00 (Kidgw.). 



Colonel N. S. Goss, in his admirable Birds of Kansas, writes that 

 he has observed this species along the edges of old channels of rivers 

 or muddy pools of water, in which it wades while feeding; immersing 

 the head and feeling with its sensitive bill in the thin mud for food. 

 It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sandpipers, 

 and at times will try and avoid detection by squatting close to the 



