BIRDS OF NEW YORK 305 



single pair to return to the breeding grounds. On the inland waters of the 

 State this bird is decidedly uncommon, but is taken occasionally along the 

 Great Lakes and rarely on our rivers and smaller lakes, in May and early 

 September. 



The Dowitcher ("Deutscher" or "German" snipe to distinguish it from 

 the "English" snipe), also called Red-breasted snipe, Robin snipe, Brown- 

 back, Gray-back, and Quail snipe, is fully as gregarious as the Yellow-legs 

 and often occurs in dense bunches over the bars and mud fiats of Long 

 Island. As they circle about the marshes, and often as they take wing 

 when startled, they utter a tremulous whistle resembling considerably the 

 notes of the Yellow-legs. Their flesh is less delicious than that of the Wilson 

 snipe, and they also bear less resemblance to the true game birds since 

 they are hunted from blinds by the use of decoys, and do not scatter or 

 lie in cover before dogs like the common Snipe. The capture of dowitchers 

 is more like slaughter and less like genuine sportsmanship. 



Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say) 

 Long-billed Dowitcher 



Limosa scolopacea Say. Long's Expedition. 1823. 2:170 

 Macrorhamp h u s scolopaceus A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 2. 1895. No. 232 



scolopa'ceus, Lat., snipelike 



Description. Very similar to the preceding species, but slightly larger, 

 with longer bill. The under parts are also more rufous in the summer 

 plumage, with the sides more heavily barred. In winter plumage the size 

 and bill are the only distinguishing features. 



Length 10.75-12. 5 inches; extent 18-20.5; wing 5.45-6.5; bill 2.2-3.25; 

 tarsus 1.3; middle toe and claw 1.2. 



This species is chiefly confined to the arctic coast west of Hudson bay 

 in the breeding season, and migrates mostly through the Mississippi valley 

 and along the Pacific coast. On our shores, however, it is a regular migrant, 

 according to Lawrence arriving at least a month earlier than M . g r i s e u s , 

 in the spring often appearing by the 20th of March and passing northward 

 in April. Mr Butcher's Notes furnish dates ranging from July 16 to October 



