258 



VERTEBRATES I BIRDS. 



Wilson's Snipe, G. Wilsonti, Bonap. 



- J 3 6 - brown, or ashy white ; under 



parts white, reddish ashy on the 

 throat. Flushed by the hunt- 

 er or other enemy, it dashes 

 through the air, in a zigzag 

 course, and when about twen- 

 ty yards off utters its pecu^ 

 liar wau-aik, which Audubon 

 says indicates the best time 

 to fire. 



The Genus Macrorhamphm 

 has the tarsus longer than the 

 middle toe, and the base of 

 the outer and middle toe connected by a short web. 



The Gray Snipe or Red-breasted Snipe, M. griseus, 

 Leach, of the temperate regions of North America, is 

 about ten inches long, and the wing five and three quar- 

 ters inches, and is distinguished from the preceding by 

 the white shaft of the first quill. 



The Greater Longbeak, M. scolopaceus, Lawr., of all 

 temperate North America, is eleven and a half inches 

 long, the wing five and three quarters inches. 



The Genus Tringa comprises a large number of small 

 birds which live on the shores of both salt and fresh 

 water in all parts of the world. They are found more 

 or less in flocks, and feed upon small or minute shell- 

 fish and other small aquatic animals. Their wings are 

 long and pointed, tail short, lower portion of tibiae naked, 

 hind toe very small, and the fore toes with a membra- 

 nous margin. They are known as Sandpipers. 



The Gray-back or Robin Snipe, T. canutus, Linn., of 

 Eastern North America and Europe, is ten inches long, 

 and the wing six and a half inches. 



Cooper's Sandpiper, T. Cooperi, Baird, of Long Island, 

 is rather smaller than the preceding. 



