224 



PR^COCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^E. 



like oui' tree-frogs ; and before Mr. Elliott had traced the noise to this source, he 

 had searched several weeks, unavailiugly, for these reptiles, misled by the call of 

 this bird. 



The eggs have the following measurements : l.GO by l.lO ; 1.52 by 1.10 ; 1.50 by 

 1.11, and 1.55 by 1.09 inches. They are decidedly pyriform in shape, one end being 

 much more obtuse than the other, the acute ends retreating in a very pronounced 

 manner. The ground-color in all the sjjecimens is of a pure and clear drab, and is 

 very boldly marked with large blotches of sepia brown, intermingled with other 

 markings which are suffused with a wash of a jjurjjlish ash. In some instances the 

 sepia markings are dilute, and in others they are intensified almost to blackness. 

 The eggs were taken June 19, 1873, and were then quite fresh. 



Genus ACTODROMAS, Kaup. 



Actodromiis, K.lUP, Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. ]829, 37 (type, Trhuja mmuta, Leisl. ). 

 Heteropijgia, CoUES, Pr. Pliilad. Acad. 1861, 190 (type, Triiuja Boimpartci, Schleg. = T. fuscicollis, 

 ViEILL.). 



Leimoniies, Kaup, t. c. (type, Trincja Temminchi, Lelsl. ). 

 Delopygin, Coues, Pr. Philad. Acad. 1861, 190 {=Hctero2)ijrjia). 



Char. Size medium to very small (smallest of the family) ; form graceful, legs and bill slen- 

 der, tbe latter straight, and little, if any, lunger than the tarsns. Tarsus decidedly longer than tlie 

 middle toe -with its claws ; toes slender, completely cleft. Wings long and pointed, their ends 

 when closed reaching beyond the tip of the tail. 



A. maculaia. 



Although the species of this genus vary greatly in size, the}' all agree very closely in the details 

 of structure. Besides the American species inolnded in the following synoptical tahle, there are 

 several Old World Actodromi, among which may be named Tringa ininuta, Leisl., and T. albescens, 

 Temm., both nearly allied to, though quite distinct from, our A. minutilla. The American sjjecies 

 may be distinguished as follows : — 



A. Size larLji' (winijs more than 5,50). 



1. A, Cooperi. Tail even, the middle feathers scarcely narrowed at the end, and not pro- 

 jecting notably beyond the rest. Lower parts white, the jugulum, breast, and sides longi- 

 tudinally flecked with dusky. Above (in adult), brownish gray, the feathers marked 

 centrally with black, producing conspicuous spots on the back and scapulars, streaks 

 elsewhere. Upper tail-coverts white, with irregular sagittate marks of dusky. Wing, 

 5.80 ; culmen, 1.25 ; tarsus, 1.20; middle toe, .80. Hab. Long Island. 



