of the United Stales. 329 



somewhat angular, low forward, high behind ; eyes very 

 large, placed high and far back. Neck moderate, stout. Body 

 compressed, very fleshy. Feet moderate, slender, 4-toed ; 

 naked space on the tibia small: tarsus rather shorter than 

 the middle toe ; anterior toes rather long, slender, scabrous 

 beneath ; middle toe longest ; inner free ; hind toe short, 

 slender, touching the ground at tip : nails falculate. Wings 

 moderate ; first and second primaries subequal, longest. 

 Tail short, rounded, of from twelve to sixteen feathers. 



Female similar to the male, a little larger. Moult twice a 

 year. 



Stupid. Live in swampy woods, forests, or in open marsh- 

 es and morasses. Feed exclusively on insects and other small 

 animals, which they seek in the mud and slime, and turning 

 over decayed leaves. Breed on the ground ; eggs about 

 four. Nocturnal, go about in the morning and evening. 

 When pursued keep close to the ground, and by hiding their 

 head in their feathers, think to avoid their numerous enemies; 

 when close chased, start on the wing with great rapidity. 

 Flesh exquisite. 



Spread all over the world. Composed of three subgenera. 



SUBGENUS I. MACRORAMPHUS. 



I 



Becassine- Chevalier , Temm. Macroramphus, Leach. 



Scolopax, Vieill. 



Feet elongated ; tibiae partly naked ; outer toe connected 

 by a membrane to the middle as far as the first joint ; hind 

 nail projecting over the toe, acute. Tail of twelve feathers. 



Vary according to age and season. 



Gregarious ; keep and fly in flocks. Inhabit open marshy 

 grounds in the neighbourhood of the sea ; not hiding in the 

 grass. Flight high, and rapid. 



Formed of a single species, of which seven or eight nomi- 

 nal have been made. More related in form, colors, changes 



