SNIPES, SANDPIPERS KT< J51 



and pass the winter in flocks, but they are nut gregarious during the 

 nesting season. 



Their long bills serve the purpose of both probes and forceps. 

 Most of the species probe the soft mud for food, while some are known 

 to hare the power of muring the upper mandible independently of 

 the lower one, curving it at the tip as one would a finger. . 



Snijics are not supposed to be song birds, but during the breeding 

 season many species are highly and |>eculiarly musical, and at other 

 times of the year they utt.-r characteristic whistles. These are sus- 

 ceptible of imitation, and the birds are quick to respond to an imita- 

 tion of their notes. The sportsman concealed in his " blind," there- 

 fore, calls to passing birds, and with the aid of wooden decoys easily 

 draws them within gunshot 



KEY TO Till SPECIE*. 



I. Bill S-OOor <" 

 .(. Axillare* barred with black. 



a. Bill curved downward. 



a'. Bill over 3-00, under 4-50 ML HvDMHUV Cnuw. 



aft. Bill under 8-00 266. ESKIMO CURLEW. 



a*. Bill over 4'50 264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



b. Bill straight or curved slightly upward. 

 A'. Tail -feathers with numerous black bare. 



t*. Wing over 7*00, primaries black or fuscous. 



254. GREATER YELLOW-LEOS. 

 6>. Wing over 7"00, inner web of primaries buff or rufous. 



249. MARBLED GODWIT. 

 b*. Wing under 7HX), bill widened and pitted at the tip. 



881. DOWITCIIER. 282. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 

 . Tail black with a broad rufous tip or marked with rufous. 

 <. Outer web of primary with rufous bare. 



227. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. 



A Primaries not barred 230. WILSON'S SNIPE. 



B. Axillare not barred. 



a. Axillan rufous or oehraoeous-buff. 



a*. Bill over 5-00, much curved downward. 



264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 

 a*. Bill nearly straight, between 3-50 and 5-00. 



249. MARBLED GODWIT. 

 a. Bill straight, under 8-50 228. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



b. Axillare blark. 



i. Under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black. 



251. HunsoNiAN GODWIT. 

 &. Under parts white, with or without blackish bare. 



258. WILLET. 258o. WESTERN WILLET. 



SeeFlc.M. 



