158 EiDGWAY on Macrorhamplms griseus, etc. 



true (/riseus being scarcely represented. Subsequent correspondence 

 with Messrs. George N. and Newbold T. Lawrence, of New York 

 City, both of whom were much interested in the subject, led to the 

 exchange of specimens for examination, and I thus for the first time 

 became autoptically acquainted with the Eastern bird. With this 

 additional material to aid me, I have reviewed the matter, and the 

 result is a perfect correspondence of my views with those of the gen- 

 tlemen above named, as embodied in the preceding article, except 

 that I cannot regard the two forms as specifically distinct, since 

 intermediate specimens do unquestionably occur, although they are 

 exceedingly rare. 



The results of my later investigations may be briefly summarized 

 as follows : — 



(1.) That in Western North America specimens never occur which, 

 in summer plumage, have the abdomen either whitish or speckled, 

 or the sides speckled. 



(2.) That specimens marked as above are peculiar to the Atlantic 

 coast (I have seen none from west of the AUeghanies), where they 

 abound during the migrating season, in the proportion of about 

 1,000 to 1 of scolojKiceus (according to Mr. Lawrence, in epist.). 



(3.) That size and proportionate length of bill, legs, etc. is much 

 more variable in both forms than is the coloration, scolopaceus 

 averaging decidedly larger, however, than griseus. 



(4.) That young birds and those in winter plumage cannot with 

 certainty be referred to either form, excepting that the very large 

 individuals (those exceeding the maximum of griseus, as given below) 

 are undoubtedly scolopaceus. 



These conclusions, I believe, agree in the main with Mr. Law- 

 rence's views concerning the two forms in question. Following, I 

 give a brief synonymy and diagnosis of the species in its two 



races, 



Macrorhamphus griseus. 



a. var. griseus. 

 The Gray Snipe. 

 Scolopax grisea, Gmel., S. N. I., 1788, 658 (based on the Brown Snipe 

 of Pennant and Latham). 



Macrorhamphus griseus, Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus., 1816, 31. — Cassin, in 

 Bairtl's B. N. Am., 1858, 712. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 524. 

 — CouES, Key, 1872, 253; Check List, 1873, No. 415; Birds N. W., 

 1874, 476. 



