BIRDS OF 



superciliary stripe, and a dark one from the bill to the eye. In winter, plain 

 gray above, and on the breast, with few or no traces of black and bay, the 

 belly, line over eye and under eyelid white. Length, 10-11 ; wing, 5-5^; tail, 

 2^ ; bill, about 2^ ; tarsus, i ; middle toe and claw, i^. A variety of this 

 (M . scolopaceus Lawrence) is almost a foot long, the bill upward of three 

 inches. 



HAB. Atlantic coast of North America, breeding far north. 



Eggs 3 to 4 ; identical in appearance with those of the common Snipe. 



Although this species is said to be abundant along the sea 

 coast and also in the Mississippi valley during the season of 

 migration, it can only be regarded as a straggler in Ontario. 

 The specimen in my collection is the only one I have ever found 

 near Hamilton. In the List of Birds of Western Ontario it is 

 spoken of as rare ; and in Lr. Wheaton's exhaustive list of the 

 birds of Ohio the writer says he never saw it in that State but 

 has had it reported as a rare spring and fall migrant. 



In their habits the Red-breasted Snipe very much resemble 

 some of the Sandpipers, associating in large flocks, and feed- 

 ing in exposed places, without much fear or suspicion, 

 which often leads to great slaughter in their ranks. Their flesh 

 is held in high estimation ; and in the south where they spend 

 the winter they are often exposed for sale in the markets. 



GENUS MICROPALAMA BAIRD. 



88. MICROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS (BONAP.). 233. 

 Stilt Sandpiper. 



Adult in summer, above blackish, each feather edged and tipped with 

 white and tawny or bay, which on the scapulars becomes scalloped ; auri- 

 culars chestnut ; a dusky line from bill to eye, and a light reddish super- 

 ciliary line ; upper tail-coverts white with dusky bars ; primaries dusky with 

 blackish tips ; tail-feathers ashy-gray, their edge and a central field white ; 

 under-parts mixed reddish, black and whitish, in streaks on the jugulum, 

 elsewhere in bars ; bill and feet greenish-black. Young and adult in winter, 

 ashy-gray above, with or without traces of black and bay, the feathers 

 with white edging ; line over the eye and under-parts white ; the jugulum 

 and sides suffused with the color of the back, and streaked with dusky ; legs 

 usually pale. Length, 8-9 inches ; wing, 5 ; tail, 2j ; bill and tarsus, both i- 

 if ; middle toe, i. 



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