OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 205 



Genus MACRORHAMPHUS, or Snipe=billed Sandpipers. 



Type, MACROEHAMPHUS GEISEUS. 



Macrorhamphus, of Leach (1816). The birds comprising the present 

 genus are characterised by having a long Snipe-like bill, nearly straight, expanded 

 near the tip which is covered by a soft pore-studded skin ; whilst the groove on 

 the lower mandible reaches nearly to the tip, whereas in the Godwits it does not 

 extend beyond half the length. They form a somewhat isolated group, presenting 

 characters similar to those of the Cleft-footed Sandpipers and Snipes (in the bill) 

 and to the Totani in the structure of the foot, which is partially webbed at the 

 base of the toes. The wings are long and pointed. The metatarsus is long; the 

 tibia for some considerable distance bare of feathers. The nostrils are lateral 

 and basal ; the toes, three in front, one behind somewhat elevated. 



This genus is composed of three species and races distributed over the Eastern 

 Palsearctic and the Nearctic regions in summer and the Neotropical and Oriental 

 regions in winter. One species is a rare straggler to the British Islands. 



The Snipe-billed Sandpipers do not differ in their general habits and the 

 localities they frequent from their near allies. Their eggs and mode of nidification 

 are also normal Totaninae. 



