SCOLOr.VCID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MACRORHAMPHUS. 



195 



Genus MACRORHAMPHUS, Leacii. 



Macrorhamphm, " Lf.acii, (.'at. IJiit. Ijinls, 1S16," Gray (type, Scolopax (jriseu, Gm.). 



Char. GciktuI :ipi»'anuico ol' llaUinaijo. T.-irsi longer than middle toe ; a short web lirtwccii 

 the base of outer uud iiiiilille loe. I'hiuiage very different in winter and suniiuei- ; voiuil; dill'cicnt 

 from the adult. 



The meniliraiie at tlie liase of the toes will at once distinguish this genus from G'allinngo, 

 though tliere are other ehaiaeters involved. 



3f. (jriseiis. 



But a single species of this genus is known ; this inhabits the whole of North America, breeding 

 in the northern regions, and occurring more or less I'reituently in Europe, 



The single species of this genus, with its two well-marked geographical races, is characterized 

 as follows : — 



1. M. griseus. About the size of Gallinmjo IVikoni, or larger. Bill long, compressed, flattened 

 and expanded toward the end, where (in dried specimens) punctulated and corrugated. Shalt of 

 first primary strong, pure white. Axillars, tail-coverts, and lower part of rump, white, barred, or 

 transversely spotted, with slate-color ; upper part of rump white, usually immaculate. Tail slaty 

 or dusky, barred w-ith white (or, in summer adult, with pale cinnamon on the middle feathers). 

 Adult in summer: Head, neck, and lower parts light cinnamon (the abdomen sometimes whitish), 

 the ibreneck and sides of breast sjieckled, the sides and crissum barred or speckled with dusky. 

 Upper parts mixed black, light cinnamon, and white, the former prevailing. Adult in winter : 

 Belly and anal region white, usually unspotted ; rest of the plumage nearly uniform ash-gray, 

 somewhat intermixed with white on the breast and sides ; wing-coverts bordered with whitish ; a 

 whitish superciliary stripe. Young, first plumage: Back, scapulars, and tertials, variegated black 

 and light chiy-color, the latter chiefly on the edges of the feathers ; lower parts dirty white, soiled 

 with dull buff or pale clay color, especially across the breast ; jugulum and sides usually indis- 

 tinctly speckled with dusky. Total length, about 10.00 to 12.50 inches ; extent, 17.50 to 20.25 ; 

 wing, 5.30-G.OO (5.73) ; culmen, 2.00-3.00; tarsus, 1.25-1.75 (1.53) ; middle toe, .90-1.10 (1.00). 

 n. griseus. Wing, 5,25-5.90 (5.65); ctrlmen, 2.00-2.55 (2.30); tarsus, 1.20-1.55 (1.35); 

 middle toe, .90-1.05 (.95).' Adult in summer : Abdomen whitish ; breast and sides speckled 

 with dusky. Hah. Atlantic coast of North America. 

 (3. scolopacciis. Wing, 5.40-6.00 (5.74); culmen, 2.10-3.00 (2.72); tarsus, 1.35-1.75 (1.58); 

 middle toe, .95-1.15 (l.Ol).^ Adult in .nimmer: Abdomen uniform cinnamon, without 

 markings ; breast speckled (usually scantily), and sides barred with dusky. Eab. Mississippi 

 Valley and Western Province of North America, from Mexico to Alaska. 



1 Extremes and avci-age of eighteen fully adult specinieiis. 

 - Extremes and average of forty fully adult specimens. 



