M^MI 



156 



SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



seen several hundred guthered in such close rank that they entirely 

 concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 



238> Macrorhamphua acolopaceus (Sa>/). Lono-billed Dow- 

 itciiek; Wksteun Dowitcheu. Ad. in nummer. — Similar to the preceding, 

 but averaging larger; the bill ewpecinlly is longer, the under parts are more 

 uniformly rufous, and the sides are more lieuvily barred with blaek. Ad, iii, 

 winter and hn. — To be distinguisiied from the corresponding stages of J/, yri- 

 seus only by their larger size. VV., tiOO ; Tar., l-;Vi ; B., '.i-lO-'J-KO. 



liange. — " Mississippi Valley and western {)r<)vinee of North America from 

 Mexico to Alaska; less common, but of regular oc-urreuee along the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States" (A. 0. U.). 



Washington, casual, seven .shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. 



A>/f/«, four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding species. 



This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our 

 coasts as a rare but regular late fall migrant. It resembles the pre- 

 ceding species in habits, but the baynien who "gun" for Snipe say 

 they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Wood- 

 cock, Wilson's Snipe, and its near ally, M. griseus, the male utters a 

 flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. 

 Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 



833* Micropalama himantopus (lionap.). Stilt Sandi'iper. 



Ad. in su.mmer. — L'[>per parts black, bordered with grayish and butty; ear- 

 coverta and an indistinct line around the buck of the luad ru/ouK ; second- 

 aries grayish, edged with white ; primaries fuscous ; rump asli y ; upjHr tail- 

 coverts barred with black anil white; outer tail-fcatiicrs with br ki-n dusky 

 bars, inner ones with central streaks or nuirgins of brownish gr., or white; 

 under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ad. in tr/w^t-r.— Upper parts 

 brownish gray; ujiper tail-coverts white ; tail white, margined with brownish 

 gray; under parts while; the throat, neck, and sides indistinctly streaked or 

 washed with grayish. Im. — Similar to the preceding, l)ut the upper parts black- 

 ish, margined with oehraceous-bulj^ L., 8-2."); W., .I-OO; Tar., l-fiO; B., l-r)5. 



liciiinrkK. — The distinguishing characters of this species are the flattened, 

 pitted tip of the bill, in connection with the very long tarsi. 



/»'««*/<'.— Kastern North .\mcrica, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and 

 wintering as far south as South America. 



Washington, casual, one record. Long Island, not uncommon T. V., May ; 

 July to Oct. 10. 



AV/f/.f, three to four, pale grayish hull, or grayish butfv white, boldly spotted 

 with rich vandyke-brown and purplish gray, 1-4'i x l-OO ( Ridgw.). 



Colonel N. S. Ooss, in his admirable Birds of Kansas, writes that 

 he has observed this species along the edges of old channels of rivers 

 or muddy pools of water, in which it wades while feeding; immersing 

 the head and feeling with its sensitive bill in the thin mud for food. 

 It moves about rather slowly as compared with the true Sandj)ipers, 

 and at times will try and avoid detection by squatting close to the 



