126 Birds ok Xoktu Cahoi.ixa 



eastern parts uf the State it is a more or less regular winter resident, the severity 

 of the weather being the controlling factor. 



As a game-bird it is most satisfactory to tiic true sportsman. Usually flushing 

 (|uickly and unexpectedly, with a rapid, zigzag fliglit, the most experienced gunners 

 find it a difficult mark. As the birds usually rise again.st the wind, it is a good i)lan 

 to work the meadows and marshes dowm wind, so far as possible. An experienced 

 retriever is a good adjunct in this kind of shooting, as a fallen bird is difficult to 

 distinguish amid the marsh grass. It is very erratic in its occurrence, frequently 

 being abundant in favorite localities one day and totally absent the next. This bird 

 is often called "Enghsh Snipe" in North Carolina. "Jack Snipe" is another name 

 sometimes heard. 



Genus Macrorhamphus iT. Forst.) 



This genus contains Sandpijx'rs having the general aiijiearance ol' sni]ie. but the 

 eyes are not so far back. ( )n(' sp(>cics, with two sul)species, belongs to our list. 



KEY TO SUBSPECIES 



1. Length 11 or less, culinon avcnifjiiij; uliout 2I4. Dtiiritclur. 



1. Lcngtli 11 or more, (■ulmoii avrrugiiiK aljout 25.1. Ldnfj-fnltcd Uoitiliiur. 



104. Macrorhamphus griseus griseus idind.). Dowitchek: Reo-bke.vsted 

 Snipe. 



Ad.s. in siunmi:r. — I'ppL'rparls, tcilials, ami wiiig-covprts lilack, the foatliors nlfjcd or hanvd 

 with octira(:cous-buff or rufous; rump, upjicr tail-covi'its, and tail barred witli blaclv and more 

 or less ochraccous-buff; )irimarics fusi'ous; undorparts dull, pale rufous, whitish on boUy, more 

 or less spotti'<l and barred with black. .-W.s. and Jiii\ in trintcr. — l"i)perparts brownisli gray; 

 rump and tail barred with black and white; throat and breast washed with ashy, b(>lly white, 

 sides and under tail-coverts barred with black. Jiir. — I'liperpaits l)lack, the feathers edged 

 with rufous; rump and tail barred with black and white, and sometimes washed with rufous; 

 secondaries widely edged with white; uiiderparts more or less washed wth ochraceous-buff 

 and ob.seurely spotted with blackish. L., 10. .50; \V., 'i.ir,; Tar., l.SO; H.. 2.0.")-2..iO. 



Fia. S7, IHlH ITCIIKU. 



Remarks. — 'I'he barred tail and I ail-coverts, with the peculiar flattened, pitted tip of the liill, 

 are characteristic of this species, (('hup., liirdx 0/ K. .V. .1.) 



Range. — Eastern North and South .Vmeriea. Breeding range unknown, but probably far 

 northward; winters from Flori<la to Brazil. 



Range in Norlh Curolina. — Coa.stal region during tlie migiations. 



