■^_ KW*' '\ 



SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MICRO? ALAMA. 201 



Genus MICROPALAMA, J^aiud. 



Uemipalama, Hdnai'. Syiiop. 1828, 310 (type, Tringu liimantojius, Bonap. ; nee Bonap. Obs. 



Wilson, 182;'), no. 212, wliifh includes only Trimju semipalnucta, WiLs. ). 

 Micropalmiw, Baiuu, Hinls X. Am. 1858, 720 (typu, Triiujahmantopus, Bonap.). 



Char. Form sleiidor, the lei,'a very Ion;;, the bill loii^' uiul much compressed, the anterior toes 

 uU webbed iit the biise. Tarsus nearly twice iw long us the midiUe toe, which is a little shorter 

 than the bare portion of the tibite, this scutellate Ijefore and behind, like the tarsus. Bill slender, 

 strai^'ht, about ecpial to the tarsus, greatly compressed, e.xcept at the end, which is decidedly ex- 

 panded laterally. Tail nearly even, but the central and exterior feathers usually perceptibly 

 longer than the rest. Wings long and pointed. 



The present genus, with a basal meniT)rane to all the anterior toes, as in Ereunetes, has this a 

 little more deeply emarginate ; the bill and legs much longer ; the former more curved. The bare 

 portion of tibia is covered before and behind by transveiwe scutello!, like the tarsus. The tail 

 is nearly even, with a double emargination. The middle toe is not two thirds the length of the 

 tarsus, but about e(|ual to the bare portion of the tibia. The bill is much pitted at the end in the 

 dry skin. 



In many respects this species approaches the Snipes, and its true place is probably very near 

 Mucrorhapiphiis. The legs, however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of being 

 much shorter. 



Micropalama himantopus. 



THE STILT SANDPIPER. 



Tringa hinuintopus, Bonap. Ann. Lye. N, Y. It. 1820, 157. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 380. 



— Alio. Oni. l$iog. IV. 1838, 332, pi. 334 ; Synop. 1830. 235 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 271, pi. 334. 

 Trimja (Hcmpnlamn) /ilinantopus, Bonap. Spcoe. Comp. 1827, 01. — Nvtt. Man. II. 1834, 138. 

 Micropalama himantopus, Cass, in Build's B. N. Am. 1858, 720. — Bairo, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 



530. — CouKs, Key, 1872, 253 ; Check List, 1873, no. 410 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. Oil ; Birds N. W. 



1874, 480. — KimiW. Nom. X. Am. B. 1881, no. 528. 

 Hemipalamn muUislrifjala, OiiAV, f!en. 15. III. 1849, 578, pi. 156. 

 Tringa Doiujlasii, Sw. & liicii. I". B. A. IT. 1831, 370, jil. CO. 

 Tringa (^Uemipalama) Douglasii, Nurr. Man. II. 1834, 141. 

 Tringa (Ilemipalanw) Auduhoni, Nurr. t. c. 141. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North Americui, Middle America, and greater part of South 

 America ; breeding north of the United States, and visiting the southern localities in winter ; 

 15ernuidas ; West Indies, in genertJ ; Brazil ; Peru. Not recorded from west of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



Sp. Char. Adult, mmmer pluvuige : Above, variegated with black, whitish gray, and pale buff, 

 the first prevailing on the 'jack and scapulars ; wings rather dark gray, the feathers edged with 



paler ; primaries dusky slate ; rump grayish, the feathers with darker centres ; upper tail-coverts 

 white, the longer ones barred, the anterior cues longitudinally marked with dusky. Middle tail- 

 voi. I. — 26 



