34 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



16. Tryngites. Size smalUa little larger than .4 cJi«i.5); bill small and slender 

 (shorter than the head, about eciual to the middle toe), the lateral groove 

 reaching nearly to the tip; gape reaching back of theculmen; middle toe 

 more than half as long as the tarsus: inner webs of quills and under 

 primary-coverts beautifully speckled. 



C. 



17. Eurynorhynohus, Size small (among the smallest of the family); hill 

 widely expanded laterally at the end; otherwise, much as in Acto- 

 dromas. 



D. iNvmenina'.) 



18. Numenius. Size large to very large (wing 7 inches or more); bill long 

 (much longer than tarsus), decidedly deourved or arched. 



Of the above, the following; genera are not represented, so far 

 as known, in the bird-fauna of Illinois: Scolojxi.r, embracing 

 the European Woodcock {S. ri/sf/'co/a), which is merely acci- 

 dental in the Atlantic States; Ileteractitis, which embraces 

 two species of Wandering Tatler (//. incanus and II. hrerlpe.H), 

 belonging to the shores and islands of the Pacific ; and Enryno- 

 Thyncli\ii<, including only the remarkable Spoonbill Sandpiper 

 {E. jiygiiKPw) , abird of eastern Asia, which has occurred accidental- 

 ly in Alaska. 



Subfamily Scolopacinse. 



Chak. Bill straight, longer than the tarsus and middle toe; back of tarsus with a con- 

 tinuous row of transverse scutella?. Ears situated directly underneath the eyes; tip of up- 

 per mandible thickened, with cutting-edges brought near together; plumage the same at 

 all stages and seasons. 



Genus PHILOHELA Gray. 



Philohela Geat, List Genera. 1841. DO. Type, Scolopax minor Qta'e.i,. 



Chak. Body very full, and head. bill, and eyes very large. Tibia short, feathered to 

 joint. Toes cleft to base. Wings short, rounded, the three outer primaries very naiTOW 

 and muoli attenuated; the fourth and fifth equal to the longest. Tarsi stout, shorter than 

 the middle toe. Hind claw very short, conical, not extending beyond the toe. Tail of 

 twelve feathers. 



The present genus, embracing a single species, th'' American Woodcock, is much like 

 Scohipax, with the European Woodcock as type, in color and external appearance. The 

 most striking difference is seen in the wings, which are short, rounded; the fourth and 

 fifth primaries longest and the outer three abruptly attenuated; while in Scolopai \.he 

 wings are long, the first primary longest, and none attenuated. 



Philohela minor (iincl. 



AMEKICAN WOODCOCK. 



Popular synonyms. Bog-sucker; Mud Snipe; Blind Snipe. 



Scolopnx mimif Gmel. S. N. i. 1788, (iGl.— WiLS. Am. Orn. vi, 1812. 40. pt. 48, llg. 2.- 

 AuD. Orn. Biog. iii. 183.1, 471, pi. 268. 



