SCOLOPACIDjE THE SNIPE FAMILY. 41 



emargination. The middle toe is not two thirds the length of 

 the tarsus, and about equal to the bare portion of the tibia. 

 The bill is much pitted at the end in the dry skin. 



"In many respects this genus approaches the Snipe, and its 

 true place is probably very near Maerorkamphus. The legs, 

 however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of much 

 shorter." ( Water B. N. Am.) 



Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.) 



STILT SANDPIPER. 



Popular synonyms. Long-legged Sandpiper; Frost Snipe (coast Connecticut). 

 Tringa himantopus BONAP. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii, 1826, 157. Sw. & RICH. F. B.-A. li, 1831, 

 380. AUD. Orn. Biog. ii, 1838, 332, pi. 334; Synop. 1839, 235; B. Am. v, 1842, 271, pi. 334. 

 Tringa (Hemipalama) himantopus BONAP. 1827. NUTT. Man. li, 1834, 138. 

 MicroDalama himantopus BATED, B. N. Am. 1858, 726 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 536. 

 COUES. Key, 1872, 253; Check List, 1874. No. 416; 2d ed. 1882, No. 611; Birds N. W. 

 1874, 480. BIDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 528; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 152. B. B. & 

 B. Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 201.-A. O. U. Check List, 1886, No. 233. 

 Tringa douglasii Sw. & RICH. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 379, pi. 66. 



Tringa (Hemipalama) douglasii NUTT. Man. ii, 1834, 141. 

 Tringa (Hemipalama) auduboni NUTT. 1. c. 141. 



HAB. Eastern Province of North America, Middle America, and greater part of South 

 America; breeding north of the United States and visiting the southern localities in 

 winter; Bermudas; West Indies, in general; Brazil; Peru. Not recorded from west of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



SP. CHAE. Adult, summer plumage: Above, variegated with black, whitish gray, and 

 pale buff, the first prevailing on the back and scapulars; wings rather dark gray, the 

 feathers edged with paler; primaries dusky slate; rump grayish, the feathers with darker 

 centres; upper tail-covers white, the longer ones barred, the anterior ones longitudinally 

 marked, with dusky. Middle tail-feathers light gray, the others varied longitudinally with 

 white and pale gray. Pileum dusky, streaked with whitish; a dark brown loral stripe, from 

 base of maxilla to the eyes; auriculars and patch on each side of the occiput, light cinna- 

 mon-rufous. Lower parts dirty white, the throat and jugulum streaked, other portions 

 transversely barred with dusky. Lining of the wing, and axillars, white, the latter slightly 

 marked with gray. Adult in winter: Above, uniform ash-gray, the upper tail-coverts, tail 

 and wings as in the summer plumage. Superciliary stripe and lower parts white, the 

 jugulum, sides of neck, and crissum, streaked with gray. Young: Back and scapulars 

 blackish, all the feathers widely bordered with buffy white; the middle of the back tinged 

 with rusty ; wing-coverts bordered with pale buff and white ; upper tail-coverts nearly im- 

 maculate white. Pileum streaked with dusky, pale buff, and grayish; nape nearly uniform 

 ash gray. Lower parts soiled white, the breast and sides more or less strongly suffused 

 with buff, the jugulum, sides of the neck, and flanks, indistinctly streaked with grayish. 

 "Bill black: iris brown; feet dull yellowish green, claws black." (AUDUBON.) 



Wing about 5.00-5.25; cuLoaen, 1.50-1.75; tarsus, 1.50-1.75; middle toe, .80-.85. 



We have no data at hand regarding the abundance of this 

 species in Illinois, but it is in all probability a more or less 

 common migrant. 



"It moves in compact flocks, and often when about to alight, or 

 after being disturbed, it inclines the body to either side, showing 

 -6 



