67 



and his flesh to the epicure. He is a necessary factor in the 

 economy of agricultural science. 



Reports of the breeding of this species in several counties 

 pretty clearly indicate mistaken identification of the bird. 

 So far as I have been able to judge, there are still no authen- 

 tic records of nests or young actually found in the state. It 

 may yet be found breeding in the north-western counties, 

 and possibly elsewhere. 



There is unmistakable evidence that this snipe sometimes 

 winters in the state. Prof. E. L. Moseley records them in 

 winter some miles west of Sandusky where springs prevent 

 the freezing of the mud and water. In the southern counties 

 there are January records which can hardly be migrating 

 birds. 



The first migrants reach Oberlin about the first of April, 

 and some remain well into May. Their return in autumn is 

 too irregular to make any definite statements possible, ex- 

 cept that the last tarry well toward the end of October. 



84. (231.) MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS (Gmel.). 202. 



Dowitcher. 



Synonyms: Scolopax grisea. 



Red-breasted Snipe, Gray Snipe, Gray-back, Gray-backed 



Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher, Brown-back. . 



Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 165. 



Judging from the reports, it is a decidedly rare bird in 

 Ohio. Dr. Langdon and Mr. Dury report it without com- 

 ment as rare near Cincinnati, and Prof. Moseley reports it 

 rare without comment at Sandusky. It is not mentioned 

 by others. It has never been taken in Lorain county. 



It should be looked for in April and May, and again in 

 late July, in August and probably in September. 



85. (232.) MACRORHAMPHUS SCOLOPACEUS (Say.). 202a. 



Long-billed Dowitcher. 



Synonyms: Macrorhamphins griseus scolopaceus, Limosa scol- 



pacea. 



Western Dowitcher, Red-bellied Snipe, Greater Long-neck. 

 Wheaton, Ohio Agri. Report, 1884, 1875, 572. 



