SNIPES, SANDPIPERS 159 



Genus MACRORHAMPHUS Leach. 



^^231. Macrorhamphus grisetis (Gmel.). Dowitcher. Red- 

 breasted Snipe; Gray Snipe; Gray-back; Brown-back. 



Plumage of adults in summer : primaries fuscous ; upper parts black or 

 blackish, the feathers edged and barred with ochraceous buff ; belly whitish ; 

 other under parts rufous, more or less barred or spotted with blackish. Plum- 

 age of winter adults : rump and tail barred black and white ; upper parts 

 brownish gray ; throat and breast ashy tinged. Immature plumage : similar 

 to winter adults above but feathers more or less edged with rufous ; second- 

 aries white edged ; under parts more or less ochraceous, the darker markings 

 obscure. Bill widened and pitted on top at tip. Wing 5.25 to 6.00; culmen 

 2.30 ; tarsus 1.30. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle ; 

 wintering from Florida to the West Indies and Brazil. 



County Records. — Cumberland; common, (Brock); arrives normally 

 between May 21 and May 29 in large flocks, the majority passing in a single 

 day, the old birds sometimes not appearing on retirrn flight, but when they 

 do appear they come in the latter part of July to the beginning of August 

 and on until October 29, (1876) in diminishing numbers, (Brown, C. B. P. p. 

 26). Knox; summer, (Racklifif), Sagadahoc; formerly very plenty, last 

 seen twelve years ago, (Spinney). Washington; rare, (Boardman). 



As a rather general migrant along the coast this species 

 appears in spring about the last of May in fair numbers. In 

 the fall migration the appearance is uncertain or irregular, 

 but when seen at all it is from late July or August until well 

 into October. They occur in small groups or often in large 

 flocks, feeding on the mud flats and sandy bars at low tide. 

 They are very fond of sea-worms, small mollusks, small crus- 

 taceans and similar "between tides" forms of life. 



They nest in Arctic regions, nesting in the " Fur Countries" 

 from about the middle to the last of June. The nests are 

 described as placed on the ground not far from the borders of 

 small lakes and ponds, being mere grass lined depressions. 



The eggs are said to be three or more often four in number, 

 pyriform in shape, and of a grayish olive to greenish brown 

 color, spotted with umber and black. They measure about 

 1.68 X 1.12. 



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