148 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



and LaDow); September 23, 1909 (Griscom) to December 5, 

 1921 (Laidlaw Williams). 



DOWITCHER (Macrorhamphus griseus griseus) 

 Many years ago the Dowitcher was an abundant tran- 

 sient, occurring on the extensive mud-flats of the south shore 

 of Long Island in dense flocks. Its excessive tameness in- 

 sured its slaughter in large numbers, resulting in a marked 

 decrease. Fifteen years ago it was a fairly common transient 

 in favorable localities, but was very rare near New York 

 City. The abolition of spring shooting was a great benefit to 

 this, as well as our other rarer Shore-birds, and at the present 

 writing the Dowitcher occurs regularly in late May at 

 Long Beach and Jones Beach. There is no difficulty in identi- 

 fying it even in the fall when the pinkish-brown underparts 

 have changed to whitish. The very long bill, short legs, 

 dark upper parts, and silvery lower back, rump and tail, are 

 all conspicuous field-marks, and its excessive tameness 

 practically insures a sufficiently close approach to see these 

 characters with the naked eye. 



Near New York City the Dowitcher is now a certainty 

 in the last week in May. It is one of our earliest fall migrants, 

 and at that season is most often seen in July or the first half 

 of August. There are no inland records. 



Long Island. Fairly common transient, April 19 to June 12; 

 June 29, July 1 to September 29. Rare where extensive mud-flats 

 are lacking. 



ORIENT. Rare fall transient; July 15, 1908 to September 

 15, 1919. 



MASTIC. Fairly common transient. 



LONG BEACH. May 6, 1921 and May 14, 1914 to June 

 23, 1921 (Bicknell); June 29, 1922 and July 1, 1920 to Septem- 

 ber 1, 1921 and October 1, 1918 (Bicknell). 

 New Jersey. Recorded only from Newark Bay, a single bird 

 May 31, 1920, and four on August 13, 1921 (Urner). 



