SCOLOPACID.K — TIIR SN'll'K I'AMII-V - MAClHtUIIAMl'lIUS, 



197 



IIaii. XdI'IIi Aiiniiiii ill i^i'IicimI, Init iliiclly tin' wi'^lcrii iMiriimi^ ipIiIic (•(intiiii.'iit ; ca-'t to tlii' 

 Mi!<Mi)<>*ip))i Viillcy, north to Alitsku, and noiitli to South Anua'ica ami tin' Went IiuUoh. OcciiNioiuil 

 aliinj,' the Atlantic ina'*! of tln' rnitcd Stnti'M. 



C'tiAit, AUult in mintiur : Siniilai' lo M, (jrUeun, lint alMlonii'n \»i\ii vinnuniun, liku rust of 



iV. (jrisfiin uroliipaceiis, sidiimfr pliimajc. 



lower partx, and without marking'", tin! Iireoxt suiintily Hpucklcd and thu sidi/« liarrcd with dusky. 

 If'inter plurtuigc antl ijoniig: DiMtinf^uishalilu from tho corresponding stiigea of M. tjrigi'im only (i) 

 hy lari,'i'r ni/.o. 



Winti, r).4(M).0U (5,71) ; cuhuon, 2.1()-3.()() (:i.72) ; tarsu.s, 1.35-1. To (l.os) ; middle toe, .95- 

 1.15 (1.01). 



The Ked-brciisted Siiiix! apiioiirs to be, coinnioii, at (lift'creiit sfasoiis of the year, in 

 ni'ui'ly all parts of North America, from tlic I'acitic to tht^ Atlautii^ shores. During 

 the winter it is i'ouml in our (iulf States, in Mexico, in Central and South America, 

 and the West Indies. It breeds, in favorable localities, from hit. 44^ N. to the Arc- 

 tic Ocean. Occasional s[)ecimens have been taken in Mernuida. 



Mr. Salvin mentions the cai»tnri' of a single specimen of this bird at San (leronimo, 

 (ruatemala; and afterward speaks of finding it common on the I 'acilie coast of that 

 region, where it frequented the sand-banks. Fie used always to see it feeding on the 

 open flats, where there was no cover whatever, its habits strongly contrasting in tins 

 respect with those of the common Snipe. This bird and the Srolnpitx riistirola of 

 Europe seemed to him to rei)resent two extremes as regards choice of feeding-grounds, 

 the true Snipe oecujjying an intermediate place in their preference for grass and 

 seeds. It is found along the whole I'acitic coast; and tlnmgh it has not been noticed 

 in the more southern portions of California, it has been taken in (Jhili. and, on the 

 eastern side, in Brazil. Mr. Dall met with it at Vastolik and at the mouth of the 

 ^'ukon, where, however, it was not common. Mr. M. Hrowne mentions it in his list 

 of the birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper, whih> he had not met with it in 

 Southern California, found it (iommon in the middle of that State froni September to 

 April, frequenting the borders of marshes, ponds, and sand-bars in large flocks, but 

 not so common near the sea-coast. He also found it in the interior among the Cor- 

 dilleras. Great numbers are brought to the San Francisco market, where they are 

 regarded as am,ong the best of the smaller game-birds. 



This Snii)e is given by Leotaud as a regular visitant in the Island of Trinidad, 

 coming from Jidy to October. It is usually in flocks, and unmixed with other 

 Waders, but is occasionally acconii)anied by the Yellowshanks. It is spoken of as 

 keeping principally about the borders of the sea, and also as being frequently found 

 in the marshy grounds not distant from the shore. Its flight is not very rapid, and 

 in taking to wing it does not make any very decided turnings. Its habits, he remarks, 

 are very similar to those of Micropalama himantoptis. 



