SNIPES, SANDPIPKIIS, ETC. 



151 



and pass the winter in flocks, but they are not gregarious during the 



nestuig season. 



Their h)ng bills serve the purpose of both probes and forceps. 

 Most of the species probe the soft mud for food, while some are known 

 to have the power of moving the upper mandible independently of 

 the lower one, curving it at the tip as one would a finger. 



Snipes are not supjiosed to be song birds, but during the breeding 

 season many species are highly and peculiarly musical, and at other 

 times of the year they utter characteristic whistles. These are sus- 

 ceptible of imitation, and the birds are quick to respond lo an imita- 

 tion of their notes. The sportsnum concealed in his " blind," there- 

 fore, calls to passing birds, and with the aid of wooden decoys easily 

 draws them within gunshot, 



KKV TO TIIK SI'KCIES. 



I. Bill 2-00 or over. 

 A. Axillurs * barred with lilia'k. 

 «. Bill curved tlowinviinl. 



a>. J}i 11 over a-00, uikIlt 4-50 205. IIidsonian Ctklew. 



a'. Bill under 3-00 2iii'.. Eskimo Ciulew. 



a'. Bill over 4"oO 2»j4. Lonu-imlleu Ciulew. 



b. Bill .straight or curved slii.ditly upward, 

 ii. Tail -feathers with numerous l)hick liars. 

 i». Wing over 7'00, primaries black or fuscous. 



'JM. (il!E.\TEU VEH,f>W-I,KOR. 



6*. Wing over 7'00, inner wch of primaries l)Ull'or rulnus. 



249. MAitnLEi) (JoDwiT. 

 h*. Wiuir under T'OO. bill widened and jiitted at the tip. 



2;)1. J)()WIT( IIEU. 'J'i'J. I.oNii-HII.I.KIl DoWITCUKIt. 



0*. Tail black with a broad rufous tip or marktd with rufous, 

 c'. Outer web of primary with rufous bars. 



227. Eiijoi'E.w WooorocK. 



('S. Primaries not barred 230. Wilso.n's Snii'e. 



a. Axillars not barred. 



a. Axillars rufous or ochracoous-buff. 



a>. Bill over H-OO, uuich curved downward. 



2CA. LoNT.-mi.I.EI) OlHI.EW, 



a'. Bill nearly straight, between 3-50 and 5-()0. 



240. Mauulei) Godwit. 

 «8. Bill straight, under S-aO 228. A.meuk an Woodcock. 



b. Axillars black. 



i'. Under parts chestnut-rufous, barred with black. 



2'il. IIlDSoNIAN' (JoDWIT. 



J'. Under parts white, with or without blackish bars. 



25JS. WiLi.ET. 2bXft. Westekx Willet, 



If 



fi 



-i 



* See Fig. 64. 



