GRALLAi-SCOLOPACIDJ2-SCOLOPAX. 
255 
THE DOWITCHEE. 
ScOLOPAX NOVEBORACENSIS. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Scolopax grisea et noveboracensis, Gm. Brown and Red-breasted S7iipe. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 4C4 
(winter and summer). 
S. noveboracensis. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 45, pi. 58, fig. 1. S. grisea , Ord’s Reprint, p. 49. 
Limosa scolopacea. Say, Long’s Exped. Vol. 2, p. 170 (winter). 
Totanus noveboracensis. Sabine, Frank. Journey (autumn). 
jS. (Macroramphus) grisea. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 330. Id. Am. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 51, pi. 23, 
fig. 3 (winter). 
S. noveboracensis , New-York Godwit. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 398. Nutt. Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 181. 
id., Red-breasted Snipe. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 6, p. 10, pi. 351. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 263. 
Characteristics. Rump and tail white ; the former spotted ; the latter banded with black : 
shaft of the first quill white. Summer, black, ash and reddish above ; 
beneath reddish. Winter, ash-colored above ; beneath white. Young: 
neck and breast ash, margined with reddish ; beneath white tinged with 
reddish. Length, 10 - 0. 
Description. Bill straight, compressed for more than half its length, 2‘0 long, as long 
again as the tarsus : inner secondaries much elongated. Tail moderate, nearly even, of 
twelve feathers. 
Color. Bill and feet dark olive. Spring: Above brownish black, varied and barred with 
brownish red; beneath dull chesnut, with distant narrow bars of black. Tail white or light 
clay-color, barred with black. Summer, above dark, obliquely barred with brownish red. 
7-9 blackish bars across the tail; the tip white. A dull light reddish band round the eye. 
All beneath orange red, with streaks and spots of black. Winter, brownish grey above, 
barred with dusky; neck ash-grey, streaked with dusky; throat and lower parts white. 
Length, 9'5-10'5. 
The Dowitchee, Red-breasted Snipe, Quail Snipe, or Brown-back, arrives on the coast of 
New-York towards the latter part of April, and, after a few weeks delay, pursues its course 
northwardly to breed. Its breeding places have not yet been ascertained. About the middle 
of July, it returns in great numbers to our coast, and is also distributed through the interior 
to the River Columbia. Its flesh is good, but not as much esteemed as that of the following 
species. It ranges from 65° north to Mexico. Its history is still incomplete. 
