238 ZOOLOGY. 



voice, and general appearance, this species on the west coast retains all the individual charac 

 teristics noted in eastern birds. This fact, together with the total absence of any skins in the 

 Smithsonian collection, indicating the existence of another species of this genus in our northwest, 

 leads me to judge, with Mr. Cassin, that there is but little probability that either the so-called 

 S. Drummondii, or the S. Douglassii, exist in nature. A few remain and breed during the 

 summer in the neighborhood of Puget Sound, but the greater portion retire to the north for 

 that purpose. Near Fort Steilacoom they are abundant in spring and fall on the marshes around 

 the small lakes in that vicinity, and also in the thicket-covered swamps near the mouths of the 

 Nisqnally, Puyallup. and other rivers. S. 



The American snipe is not uncommon in the Territory during the migrating season, and I 

 think a few remain throughout mild winters, but most of this species seem to go on at once to 

 the plains of California, where I saw them in immense numbers in November. In habits, flight, 

 and the peculiar quacking cry when startled, they precisely resemble the same bird near the 

 Atlantic. I saw them near the Columbia in August. C. 



MACRORHAMPHUS GRI3EUS : (Gmelin,) Leach. 



Gray Snipe ; Red-breasted SnJpe. 



Scolopax grisea, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 658, No. 27. 



Macrorhamphus griseus, &quot; LEACH, Catal. Brit. Mus. 1816, 31.&quot; STEPHENS, Shaw. Gen. Zool. XII, 1824, 61. BON. Am 



Orn. IV, 1832,51; pi. xxiii. BAIRD & CASSIN, Gen. Rep. Birds, 7 12. 

 Scolopax novtboracemis, GM. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 658, No. 28. WILSON, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 45; pi. Iviii Sw. F. Bor. 



Am. II, 1831, 398. AUD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 288; pi. 339 IB. Syn. 249. IB. Birds Amer. 



VI, 1843, 10; pi. 351. 



g p- CH. Rather smaller than the preceding ; bill long, compressed, flattened and expanded towards the end, and in the 

 same space punctulated and corrugated ; wing rather long ; shaft of first primary strong ; tail short ; legs rather long. Adult : 

 Upper parts variegated with dark ashy, pale reddish and black, the latter predominating on the back; rump and upper tail 

 coverts white, the latter spotted and barred transversely with black. Under parts pale ferruginous red, with numerous points 

 and circular spots of brownish black on the neck before, and transverse bands of the same on the sides and under tail coverts ; 

 axillary feathers and under wing coverts white, spotted and transversely barred with black. Quills brownish black ; shaft of first 

 primary white ; tail brownish black, with numerous transverse bands of ashy white, and frequently tinged with ferruginous, 

 especially on the two middle feathers ; bill greenish black ; legs dark greenish brown. Younger : Entire under parts dull white, 

 strongly marked with dull ashy on the neck in front, and transverse bands of the same on the sides ; axillary feathers and under 

 wing coverts white, spotted with brownish black; upper parts lighter than in the adult. Total length about 10 inches; wing, 

 5| ; tail, 2^ ; bill, 2 ; tarsus, 1| inch. 



Hab. Entire temperate regions of North America. 



Quite common in autumn near Fort Steilacoom. A few also remain throughout the summer 

 and breed. A female specimen (371) killed May 5, 1856, near Fort Steilacoom, from the appear 

 ance of her plumage appeared to be then incubating. It measured 11|-19, bill S^V-* In that 

 vicinity the } 7 oung &quot;of the year&quot; begin to appear on the edges of brackish pools and in other 

 places abounding in their favorite food in August, and during the following two months birds 

 of the species, of all ages, are very abundant. S. 



The red-breasted or robin snipe is not very abundant, and associates in flocks, with several 

 species of small sandpipers, during spring and fall, along the edges of salt marshes and flats 

 near the coast. C. 



Mr. Cassin attributes M. scolopaceus to Washington Territory, on authority of Dr. Suckley, but mentions no specimen 

 resembling it except this one. (See Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 868.) C. 



