DESCRIPTIVE LIST 123 



FIG. 84. BLACK-NECKED STILT. 

 2.O. FAMILY SCOLOPACID>E. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



These are the most familiar and numerous of our shore-birds, varying greatly 

 in size and appearance, yet always retaining a more or less snipe-like appearance. 

 The genera that occur in our State are numerous and may be distinguished by the 

 aid of the following table: 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Tarsus scutellate in front only. Bill very long, decurved. (Curlews.) Numenius. 



1. Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. Bill not much decurved. See 2. 



2. Eyes far back, directly above ears, tip of upper mandible thickened. Plumage unchang- 



ing. See 3. 



2. Eyes not far back, considerably in front of ears. Tip of upper mandible thin. Summer 



and winter plumages different. See 4. 



3. Tibiae entirely feathered. Three outermost quills of wing much shorter and narrower than 



the others. Philohela. 



3. Tibiae naked below. None of the wing- quills notably different from the others. Gallinago. 



4. Hind toe wanting. Calidris. 



4. Hind toe present. See 5. 



5. Toes not webbed at all, or with a single minute web. See 6. 



5. Toes more or less webbed at base. See 9. 



6. Bill shorter than middle toe with claw. Inner webs of wing-quills mottled. Tryngites. 



6. Bill not shorter than middle toe with claw. Inner webs of wing-quills not mottled. 



See 7. 



7. Wing 6 inches or more. Middle pair of tail-feathers not longer than the rest. Tringa. 



7. Wing less than 6. Middle pair of tail-feathers longer and more pointed than the rest. 



See8. 



8. Bill scarcely longer than tarsus, and not half the length of tail. Pisobia. 



8. Bill considerably longer than tarsus, and more than two-thirds the length of tail. Pelidna. 



9. Tail graduated, more than half length of wing. Bartramia. 



9. Tail little graduated, not more than half the length of wing. See 10. 



10. Tail shorter than bill. Gape not reaching behind base of culmen. Tail barred or else 

 chiefly black. See 11. 



10. Tail longer than bill (from frontal feathers). Gape reaching beyond base of culmen. 



See 12. 



11. Culmen smooth, not grooved. Limosa. 



11. Culmen with a median groove. Tip of both mandibles wrinkled or pitted. Macro- 

 rhamphus. 



