160 HISTORY OF THE 



grasses. Eggs three or four, 1.60x1.16; grayish to buff white, 

 irregularly spotted and blotched with various shades of reddish 

 brown and neutral tints; in shape, rather pyriform. 



GENUS GALLINAGO LEACH. 



"Lower portion of the tibia bare of feathers, scutellate before and behind, 

 reticulated laterally like the tarsi. Nail of hind toe slender, extending beyond 

 the toe. Bill depressed at the tip. Middle toe longer than the tarsus. Tail 

 with twelve to twenty-six feathers. Plumage the same in winter and summer; 

 young like the adult in colors and markings. The more slender body, longer 

 legs, partly naked tibia, and other feathers, distinguish this genus from Scolopax 

 and PhiloTiela, and the cleft toes from Macrorhamphus." 



Gallinago delicata (OKD.). 



WILSON'S SNIPE. 

 PLATE X. 



Migratory; common. Arrive in March to first of April; re- 

 turn as early as August; a few occasionally remain until their 

 feeding grounds are frozen. 



B. 523. K. 526a. C. 608. G. 241, 74. U. 230. 



HABITAT. The whole of North America; south in winter to 

 the West Indies and northern South America; breeding from 

 about latitude 42 north to within the Arctic circle. 



SP. CHAR. "(Tail feathers usually sixteen.) Bill long, compressed, flattened 

 and slightly expanded toward the tip, punctulated in its terminal half; wings 

 rather long; legs moderate; tail short. Entire upper parts brownish black; 

 every feather spotted and widely edged with light rufous, yellowish brown or 

 ashy white; back and rump transversely barred and spotted with the same; a 

 line from the base of the bill over the top of the head. Throat and neck before, 

 dull reddish ashy; wing feather marked with dull brownish black; other under 

 parts white, with transverse bars of brownish black on the sides, axillary feath- 

 ers, under wing coverts and under tail coverts; quills brownish black; outer 

 edge of first primary white; tail glossy brownish black, widely tipped with 

 bright rufous, paler at the tip, and with a subterminal narrow band of black; 

 outer feathers of tail paler, frequently nearly white, and barred with black 

 throughout their length. Bill brown (greenish gray in life), paler at base and 

 darker toward the end; legs dark brown (light greenish gray in life)." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 10.50 16.80 5.20 2.20 1.20 2.50 



Female... 11.15 17.25 5.25 2.30 1.25 2.60 



Iris dark brown; claws black. 



This highly-prized game bird is quite common from the At- 

 lantic to the Pacific. It inhabits the open moist grounds, where 

 it can feed and probe with its long, soft, sensitive, pointed bill 



