90 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



Nest. A depression in the moss or grass, sometimes at considerable 

 distance from water. Eggs : 4, greenish olive to light clay color, spotted 

 with dark umber brown. 



By some ornithologists scolopaceus is considered merely a western 

 subspecies of griseus, with intergrades between and probably a con- 

 tinuous breeding range across the arctic regions. In winter plum- 

 age the main difference is one of size, but as the females of both 

 species are larger than the males only birds of the same sex should 

 be compared. 



In their migrations over the United States the long-billed dow- 

 itchers are usually found in little flocks along the coasts or among 

 the prairie sloughs or marshes, flying swiftly low over the ground, 

 or feeding in close bunches. Unfortunately they are considered 

 legitimate game, and although wild and ever on the alert fall an easy 

 prey to the pot-hunter. 



For an interesting account of their habits on their breeding 

 grounds, see Nelson's Birds of Alaska. VERNON BAILEY. 



GENUS MICROPALAMA. 



233. Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). STILT SANDPIPER. 



Bill long and slender, conspicuously widened and roughened at tip ; toes 

 webbed at base, legs long and slender. 

 Adults in summer : upper parts mottled 

 with dusky, black, buff, and brown ; up- 

 per tail coverts white, barred with dusky ; 

 ear coverts and stripe along side of crown 

 rusty brown ; under parts thickly barred 



and mottled with dusky, buff, and white. Adults in winter: upper parts 

 plain ashy gray, under parts including tail coverts white, specked on 

 sides ; throat and tail coverts marked with gray. Young : back browner, 

 belly plain buffy, tail coverts nearly pure white. Length : 7.50-9.25, wing 

 5.00-5.30, bill 1.55-1.75, tarsus 1.55-1.70. 



Distribution. Eastern North America, breeding north of the United 

 States ; south in winter to Central and South America ; west to Colorado 

 and Wyoming. 



Goss, in his Birds of Kansas, says: "I have met with this rare 

 species in the state on several occasions, at all times in small flocks 

 and along the edges of old channels of rivers or muddy pools of 

 water in which it wades while feeding." 



GENUS TRINGA. 



General Characters. Toes slender, without webs at base ; bill slender 

 and narrow, tip hard and smooth. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Middle pair of tail feathers not longer than others . canutus, p. 91 

 1'. Middle pair of tail feathers sharp and longer than the others. 



