390 



MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS (LEACH). 

 THE GRAY SNIPE REDBREASTED SNIPE, DOWITCHER. 



Specific Character. About the size of Gallinago Wilsoni. Shaft of the first 

 Drimary strong, pure white ; axillars, tail coverts, and lower part of rump, white 

 3arred or transversely spotted with slate colour ; upper part of rump white 

 isually immaculate ; tail slate coloured or dusky barred with white, (or in sum- 

 ner adult with pale cinnamon on middle feathers). In summer brownish black 

 ibove variegated with bay ; below brownish red variegated with dusky ; a 

 ;awny superciliary stripe and a dark one from the bill to the eye. In winter 

 )elly and anal region white, usually unmarked ; rest of plumage uniform ash 

 *ray, somewhat mixed with white on breast and sides ; a whitish superciliary 

 [tripe and wing coverts bordered with white. Wing, 5.50 ; bill, 2.50 ; tarsus, 1.85 ; 

 ;ulmen, 2.30 ; middle toe .95. 



Habitat. Atlantic coast of North America, breeding in the region about 

 Eudson's Bay. 



Formerly the Redbreasted snipe was quite common, being generally seen in 

 mall " wisps." Wilson reports that it occurred in his time in large flocks. Of 

 ate years, however, it is not found in any numbers in Ontario. 



