Descriptive List 



127 



The Dowitcher or "Grayback" is one of the best known of our shore-birds. Its 

 migrations with us extend only along the tidal reaches of the coast. Inland, its 

 occurrence is merely accidental. Feeding along the exposed mud flats left bare by 

 the receding tide, on the open beach, or wading the shallow beach pools, this hand- 

 some snipe moves in flocks that bring joy to the heart of the beach gunner. The 

 flight is strong, swift, and steady, and the bunches are usually so compact as to 

 enable the shooter, if he so desires, to secure more than one to the shot. It comes 

 well to decoys and answers readily to a call from the blind. 



The height of its sjjring migration is in May and the birds coming south in the 

 fall reach our coast in July. Some remain almost to the end of the year. One 

 killed at Raleigh, July 29, 1884. 



105. Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus {Say.} Long-billed Dowitcher. 



Ads. in summer. — Similar to the preceding, but averaging larger; the bill especially is 

 longer, the underparts are more uniformly rufous, and the sides are more heavily barred with 

 black. Ads. in winter and .1 iiv. — To be distinguished from the corresponding stages of griseus 

 only by their larger size. \V., 6.00; Tar., l.fjO; B., 2.10-2.90. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Ramjc. — Western North and South America, breeding far northwaid; winters from Florida 

 southward to Mexico; occurs on the Atlantic coast auring the migrations. 



Range in North Carolina. — Coastal region during the migrations. 



This is a bird of the middle and western states, but occurs regularly in the east 

 in small numbers. The only North Carolina records available are from Beaufort 

 (Atkinson), Pea Island (July, 1904, Bishop), and two specimens taken by Bruner 

 at Beaufort, August 18 and 20, 1910. 



Fig. 88. Stilt S.^ndpiper. 



Genus Micropalama (Baird) 



106. Micropalama himantopus {Bonap.). Stilt Sandpiper. 



Ads. in summer. — Upperparts black, bordered with grayish and buffy; ear-coverts and an 

 mdistinct line around back of head rufous; secondaries 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; 

 underparts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ads. and Juv. in winter. — Upperparts brownish 

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



