Desckiptive List 123 



Fig. 84. Black-neckld Stilt. 

 20. FAMILY SCOLOPACID/E. SNIPES. SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



These are the most famihar and numerous of our shore-birds, varying greatly 

 in size and appearance, yet always retaining a more or less snipe-like appearance. 

 The genera that occur in our State are numerous and may be distinguished by the 

 aid of the following table: 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Tarsus scutellatc in front only. Bill very long, decurved. (Curlews.) N umenius. 



1. Tarsus scutellatc in front and beliind. Bill not much decurved. See 2. 



2. Eyes far back, directly above ears, tip of upper mandible thickened. Plumage unchang- 



ing. See 3. 



2. Eyes not far back, considerably in front of ears. Tip of upper mandible thin. Summer 



and winter plumages different. See 4. 



3. Tibia; entu-ely feathered. Three outermost quills of wing much shorter and narrower than 



the others. Philohcla. 



3. Tibiae naked below. None of the wing-quilLs notably different from the others. Gallinago. 



4. Hind toe wanting. Calidris. 



4. Hind toe present. See 5. 



5. Toes not webbed at all, or with a single minute web. See 6. 

 .5. Toes more or less weljbed at base. See 9. 



(J. Bill shorter than middle toe with claw. Inner webs of wing-quills mottled. Tryngites. 



(). Bill not shorter than middle toe with claw. Inner webs of wing-quiUs not mottled. 



See 7. 

 7. Wing 6 inches or more. Middle pair of tail-feathers not longer than the rest. Tringa. 



7. Wing less than 6. Middle pair of tail-feathers longer and more pointed than the rest. 



See S. 

 S. Bill scarcely longer than tarsus, and not half the length of tail. Pisobia. 



8. Bill considerably longer than tarsus, and more than two-thkds the length of tail. Pelidna. 

 0. Tail graduated, more than half length of wing. Barlramia. 



'.K Tail little gi'aduated, not more than haff the length of wing. See 10. 



10. Tail sliorter tlian biU. Gape not reaching behind base of culmen. Tail barred or else 

 chiefly black. See 11. 



10. Tail longer than bill (from frontal feathers). Gape reaching beyond base of cuhnen. 



See 12. 



11. Culmen smooth, not grooved. Limosa. 



11. Culmen with a median groove. Tip of both mandibles wrinkled or pitted. Macro- 

 rhamphus. 



