254 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



3*7, corrugated towards the tip. Tail broadly emarginate ; the worn shafts of the middle 

 pair projecting beyond the others. Color : Crown brown, obscurely streaked with dusky ; 

 back of the neck paler. Back shining olive, with occasional dark spots. Lores dusky ; a 

 broad band on the rump, white. Upper tail-coverts beyond this band, black : tail tipped 

 with white ; the white on the base of the tail-feathers extends farthest on the outer web of 

 the lateral pair. Beneath, chin and upper part of the throat white ; remainder of the throat 

 and upper part of the breast light brownish drab, with a few of the feathers rufous at their 

 tips and bordered with black ; remainder of the breast, belly and vent white, with a few 

 rufous marked with zigzag black bars. On the flanks the barred rufous feathers predomi- 

 nate : lateral tail-coverts white, barred, with black. Inner wing-coverts and axillaries white, 

 barred with black. 



Length, 15-5- 16'5. * 



This is not as common along our coast as the preceding species. In Boston it is called the 

 Goose-bird. It appears to breed in high northern latitudes, descending in the spring along 

 the coast as far south as New-York, and probably still farther through the interior. It has 

 been observed in Ohio. I suppose the L. edwardsi, or White Snipe, noticed by Linsley in 

 his Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, to be probably a variety still farther removed, 

 from the ordinary distribution of colors and markings. It is often found associated with the 

 preceding. Its history is incomplete. 



GENUS SCOLOPAX. Linn^us. 



Bill very long, slender, straight, flexible, soft ; the tip depressed and dilated : both mandibles 

 furrowed to the middle ; upper terminated by an internal knob, and slightly longer than 

 the lower. Legs moderate or long, slender : four- toed. 



Obs. The first described species has been arranged under the genus Macroramphus of 

 Leach, chiefly characterized by the presence of a membrane between the outer and middle 

 membranes extending to the first joint. The others have been arranged under the genus 

 Gallinago, chiefly characterized by its divided feet, and tail of more than twelve feathers. 

 We prefer to retain the old genus Scolopax,. which gives its name to the family. 



