SCOLOPAX. 603 



Tribe, LONGIROSTRES. 



A. family of wading birds, in which Cuvier includes the snipe, godwits 

 ibises, curlews, phalaropes, &c., at the end of which come the avocets. These 

 are nearly all migratory birds, and associate in flocks during winter. The 

 characters by which this tribe is chiefly distinguished are the long slender bill, 

 and long and pointed wings ; the hind toe is usually present but wanting in 

 some. 



Family, SCOLOPACID^:. 



Bill long, straight, compressed, soft, the point enlarged ; the mandibles 

 furrowed for half their length; upper mandible slightly longer than the lower; 

 nostrils lateral, situated basally in a groove and covered by membrane ; feet 

 moderate, slender, three toed, not webbed; hind toe present; plumage varied 

 and rich. 



Gen. Scolopax. Linn. 



Characters same as those of the Family ; lower mandible channelled only to 

 the middle; wings long, 1st quill longest ; tibia feathered to- the knee. 



1281. Scolopax rustiCOla Linn., Syst. Nat. i. p. 243; Jerd., B. 

 Ind. iii. p. 670; Blyth, B. Burnt, p. 157; Anders., Sir. F. iii. p. 356; 

 Dresser, B. Eur. vii. p. 615, pi. ; Hume and Dav., Sir. F. vi. p. 458; Hume, 

 Sir* F. viii. p. 1 12 ; Bingham, Str. F. viii. p. 196 ; Hume and Marsh., Game 

 Birds iii. p. 311, pi. Scolopax rusticula. Dav. et Oust. Ois. Chine ; Legge 

 B. Ceylon, p. 806 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. p. 380 ; Murray, Vert. ZooL, Sind, 

 p. 238. The WOODCOCK. 



The peculiar shape of the head of this esteemed bird is almost a sufficient 

 character to identify it among others. The head is more obtusely triangular 

 than round ; the eyes are placed above its middle, near the top, and the ears 

 are nearly on a level with the corner of the mouth. Crown of the head ashy, 

 or ashy grey ; the nape and back part of the head with four transverse alter- 

 nate bands of black and rusty red or chestnut brown ; a dark streak from the 



