LIMICOL. 67 
and his flesh to the epicure. He is a necessary factor in the 
economy of agricultural science. 
Reports of the breeding of this species in several counties 
pretty clearly indicate mistaken identification of the bird. 
So far as I have been able to judge, there are still no authen- 
tic records of nests or young actually found in the state. It 
may yet be found breeding in the north-western counties, 
and possibly elsewhere. 
There is unmistakable evidence that this snipe sometimes 
winters in the state. Prof. E. L. Moseley records them in 
winter some miles west of Sandusky where springs prevent 
the freezing of the mud and water. In the southern counties 
there are January records which can hardly be migrating 
birds. 
The first migrants reach Oberlin about the first of April, 
and some remain well into May. Their return in autumn is 
too irregular to make any definite statements possible, ex- 
cept that the last tarry well toward the end of October. 
84. (231.) MAcRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS (Gmel.). 202. 
Dowitcher. 
Synonyms: Scolopax grisea. 
Red-breasted Snipe, Gray Snipe, Gray-back, Gray-backed 
Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher, Brown-back. 
Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Sury., 1838, 165. 
Judging from the reports, it is a decidedly rare bird in 
Ohio. Dr. Langdon and Mr. Dury report it without com+ 
ment as rare near Cincinnati, and Prof. Moseley reports it 
rare without comment at Sandusky. It is not mentioned 
by others. It has never been taken in Lorain county. 
It should be looked for in April and May, and again in 
late July, in August and probably in September. 
85. (232.) MACRORHAMPHUS SCOLOPACEUS (Say.). 202a. 
Long-billed Dowitcher. 
Synonyms: Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus, Limosa scol- 
pacea. 
Western Dowitcher, Red-bellied Snipe, Greater Long-neck. 
Wheaton, Ohio Agri. Report, 1884, 1875, 572. 
