SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 151 



and pass the winter in flocks, but they are not gregarious during the 

 nesting season. 



Their long bills serve the purpose of both probes and forceps. 

 Most of the species probe the soft mud for food, while some are known 

 to have the power of moving the upper mandible independently of 

 the lower one, curving it at the tip as one would a finger. 



Snipes are not supposed to be song birds, but during the breeding 

 season many species are highly and peculiarly musical, and at other 

 times of the year they utter characteristic whistles. These are sus- 

 ceptible of imitation, and the birds are quick to respond to an imita- 

 tion of their notes. The sportsman concealed in his " blind," there- 

 fore, calls to passing birds, and with the aid of wooden decoys easily 

 draws them within gunshot. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



I. Bill 2-00 or over. 



A. Axillars* barred with black. 



a. Bill curved downward. 



a^. Bill over 3-00, under 4-50 265. Hudsonian Curlew. 



a^. Bill under 3-00 266. Eskimo Curlew. 



as. Bill over 4-50 264. Long-billed Curlew. 



b. Bill straight or curved slightly upward. 

 b^. Tail-feathers v*-ith numerous black bars. 



b^. Wing over 7*00, primaries black or fuscous. 



254. Greater Yellow-legs. 

 b^. Wing over 7*00, inner web of primaries buff or rufous. 



249. Marbled Godwit. 

 b*. Wing under 7-00, bill widened and pitted at the tip. 



231. DowiTCHER. 232. Long-billed Dowitcheb. 

 c*. Tail black with a broad rufous tip or marked with rufous. 

 f2. Outer web of primary with rufous bars. 



227. European Woodcock. 

 c^. Primaries not barred 230. Wilson's Snipe. 



B. Axillars not barred. 



a. Axillars rufous or ochraceous-buff. 



«!. Bill over 5-00, much curved downward. 



264. Long-billed Curlew. 

 rt2. Bill nearly straight, between 3*50 and 5-00. 



249. Marbled Godwit. 

 rt3. Bill straight, under 3-50 228. American Woodcock. 



b. Axillars black. 



b^. Under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black. 



25L Hudsonian Godwit. 

 J2. Under parts white, with or without blackish bars. 



258. WiLLET. 258«. Western Willet. 



* See Fig. 64. 



