66 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



stockily built and more nearly resembles the true Snipes. Fore- 

 head gray ; crown black with light brown bars ; breast and belly 

 rufous ; back and wings mixed with black, brown and gray. Bill 

 about two and three quarters inches in length. 



230. WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago deUcata.) "JACKSNIPE." 



The Wilson Snipe is common in migration over most of 

 the State, but nests only in the eastern part in marshy sloughs. 



Crown and back brown; throat and under parts light; bill 

 about two and one half inches in length. 



Like the Woodcock, it has short legs and a long thick bill 

 and secures its food of worms and insect larvae by probing into 

 the soft moist ground. 



231. DOWITCHER (Macrorhamphus griseus griseus.) 



This bird is about the size of a Robin and has a rough or 

 pitted bill slightly over two inches long. Crown, back and wings 

 black, margined or barred with rufous; under parts reddish 

 brown spotted and barred with black; rump and tail barred with 

 black and white. 



It is an eastern species and out of its range in South 

 Dakota, but in earlier days was no doubt quite abundant. The 

 specimen in the University Museum was taken several years ago 

 in Miner County by Mr. F. A. Patton. 



232. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus.) 



Very similar to No. 231 but darker on the under part and 

 with longer bill, averaging nearly three inches. The females are 

 said to be slightly larger than the males. 



This is supposed to be the western form of the Dowitcher 

 but it is probably rare in South Dakota today even in migration. 

 Both species breed in the Arctic regions. 



233. STILT SANDPIPER (Micropalama himantopus.) 



This Sandpiper is about eight incehs long, including the 

 bill, which measures one and one-half inches. The crown, back 

 and wings are black, mixed with white and brown. There is a 

 reddish brown line from bill to eye and extending to the auricu- 

 lars. The under parts are white, barred with black and brown. 



