196 SCOLOPACID^ : SNIPE, ETC. 



has caused American birds to be called by the name of 

 their nearest European relative, real or supposed — a 

 circumstance tending to promulgate error and confusion. 

 We should do our best to suppress such wrong names in 

 every instance, even without such an example as the 

 well-nigh hopeless muddle about our Bob-white to warn 

 us. "Jack Snipe" is another soubriquet of our Gal- 

 linago, of no obvious application indeed, but not par- 

 ticularly bad, though also employed to designate the 

 Pectoral Sandpiper, Actodromas maciilata. 



Throughout the greater part of the United States the 

 Snipe is found only during the migrations, and in 

 winter. It breeds, however, in Northern New England, 

 and it may do so along other portions of our northern 

 border. It is almost exclusively a migrant through the 

 United States, though some probably winter in the 

 southern portions. Its migrations are pushed, at that 

 season, even to South America, and it also occurs 

 in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies, 

 according to numerous extra-limital quotations. The 

 eggs are moderately pyriform, and measure about 1.60 

 by 1.12 ; some, however, being so small as 1.50 by 1.95. 

 The ground color is grayish-olive, with more or less 

 brownish shade in different specimens. The markings 

 are numerous, generally heavy, and often massed, 

 though, as a rule, distinct ; they may appear all over the 

 surface, but are always thickest and largest on the 

 major half of the ^gg. The color is umbcr-brown, 

 of varying shade, according to the depth or quantity of 

 pigment. With these surface markings are associated 

 some paler or obscure shell spots, not ordinarily so 

 noticeable, however, as in some other species. And 

 over all we find, in occasional specimens, curious sharp, 



