156 SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



seen several hundred gathered in such close rank that they entirely 

 concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 



232. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus > /// >. LONG-BILLED Dow- 



ITVIIKH; WKSTKI:X PowiTrHKK. Ad. in mi/mmr. Similar to tin- preceding, 

 but averaging larger; the bill especially is longer, the under parts are more 

 uniformly rufous, and the sides are inert- heavily l>arrel with blaek. .1,1. in 

 winter and Im. To be distinguished from tin- corri->pondiinr stall's of J/. -jri- 

 letu only by their larger size. W., 6-00 ; Tar., 1-50 ; B., 2-10-2-90. 



Range. ' Mississippi Valley and western province of North America from 

 Mexico to Alaska; less common, but of regular occurrence along the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States" (A. O. U.). 



Washington, casual, seven shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. 



Eggi four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding specie -s. 



This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our 

 coasts as a rare but regular lute full migrant. It resembles the pre- 

 ceding species in habits, but the baymen who "gun" for Snipe say 

 they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Wood- 

 cock. Wilson's Snii>e. and its near ally, J/. ////. //.<. the male utters \\ 

 flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. 

 Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 



233. Mlcropalama himantopus < lionap.). STILT SANKI-II-KK. 



Ad. in tiiinin, r. I'ppcr parts black, bordered with -rravish and bully; ear- 

 coverts and an indistinct line around tlie back of the head rnf<>u* ; second- 

 aries grayish, edged with white; primaries fuscous; rump ashy : upper tail- 

 coverts barred with black and white; outer tail-feathers with broken dusky 

 bars, inner ones with central streaks or margins of brownish gray or white; 

 under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ail. in ;/,(, r. - - 1' pper parts 

 brownish gray; upper tail-coverts it-hit- ; tail white, margined with brownish 

 gray; under parts white; the throat, neck, ami sides indistinctly streaked or 

 washed with grayish. Int. Similar to the preeedinir, but the upper parts black- 

 ish, margined with ochraccous-buff. L., 8-25; W., 5-00; Tar., 1-60; B., 1 .".">. 



Remarks. The distinguishing characters of this species are the flattened, 

 pitted tip of the bill, in connection with the very long tarsi. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and 

 wintering as far south as South America. 



Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; 

 July to Get 10. 



/.';';/., three to four, pale grayish buff, or grayish buffy white, boldly spotted 

 with rich vandyke-brown and purplish gray, 1-42 x 1-00 CRidgw.). 



Colonel N. S. Goss, in his admirable Uinls of Kansas, writes that 

 he has observed this species along the edges of old channels of rivers 

 or muddy pools of water, in which it wades while feeding; immersing 

 the head and feeling with its sensitive bill in the thin mud for food. 

 It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sandpipers. 

 and at times will try and avoid detection by squatting close to the 



