156 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



FAM. SCOLOPACID^. 



SNIPES. 



GALLINAGO WILSONI. {Tcmm.) 

 Wilson's Snipe. 



Winter Plumage, J\'Iale. — Bill longer than head; crown, black, 

 with a tawny stripe through the centre ; upper parts varied with 

 brownish white, tawny, and black ; chin, white ; neck and breast, 

 mottled brown and white ; feathers of the sides, white, beautifully 

 banded with brown, becoming darker under the wings and very 

 much finer on the flanks; belly, white; primaries tipped with white; 

 crissum streaked with brown and tawny; tail, black, barred with 

 chestnut, black and white at the tip. 



Length 11, wang 5.10, tail 2.64, tarsus 1.20, bill 2.50. 



During the winter months the Wilson's Snipe becomes abundant 

 in some localities, frccjuenting marshy ground. Near the Southern 

 Bight, Andros Island, we found them common during the month of 

 January. While walking through marshy spots on many of the 

 other islands we often observed places where they had evidently 

 been boring, but as a rule, but few birds were seen. Like others 

 of its family, it is migratory, and none remain during the summer. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. V. pi. 350. 



