254 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
3*7, corrugated towards the tip. Tail broadly emarginate; the worn shafts of the middle 
pair projecting beyond the others. Color: Crown brown, obscurely streaked with dusky ; 
back of the neck paler. Back shining olive, with occasional dark spots. Lores dusky ; a 
broad band on the rump, white. Upper tail-coverts beyond this band, black: tail tipped 
with white ; the white on the base of the tail-feathers extends farthest on the outer web of 
the lateral pair. Beneath, chin and upper part of the throat white ; remainder of the throat 
and upper part of the breast light brownish drab, with a few of the feathers rufous at their 
tips and bordered with black; remainder of the breast, belly and vent white, with a few 
rufous marked with zigzag black bars. On the flanks the barred rufous feathers predomi¬ 
nate : lateral tail-coverts white, barred, with black. Inner wing-coverts and axillaries white, 
barred with black. 
Length, 15'5-16'5. 
This is not as common along our coast as the preceding species. In Boston it is called the 
Goose-bird. It appears to breed in high northern latitudes, descending in the spring along 
the coast as far south as New-York, and probably still farther through the interior. It has 
been observed in Ohio. I suppose the L. edwardsi, or White Snipe, noticed by Linsley in 
his Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut, to be probably a variety still farther removed, 
from the ordinary distribution of colors and markings. It is often found associated with the 
preceding. Its history is incomplete. 
GENUS SCOLOPAX. Linnaeus. 
Bill very long, slender, straight, flexible, soft; the tip depressed and dilated: both mandibles 
furrowed to the middle; upper terminated by an internal knob, and slightly longer than 
the lower. Legs moderate or long, slender : four-toed. 
Obs. The first described species has been arranged under the genus Macroramphus of 
Leach, chiefly characterized by the presence of a membrane between, the outer and middle 
membranes extending to the first joint. The others have been arranged under the genus 
Gallinago, chiefly characterized by its divided feet, and tail of more than twelve feathers. 
\Ve prefer to retain the old genus Scolopax, which gives its name to the family. 
