II 



90 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [Tol.Y. 



Occurs in many portions of Dakota during the spring and fall migra 

 tions ; a prime bird for the table. 



Wilson's Snipe is seen here only during the spring migrations, whic 

 for this bird, are generally from the 1st to the 6th of May, but som 

 times there is a variation of a week either way. Whatever may be thi 

 time of its arrival, the bird does not seem to pass this region in any 

 numbers, but the few taken are in prime condition for the table, showing 

 ' that its migration has been by easy flights. Several careful searches 

 for the bird, during the fall, have not been attended with successful re- 

 sults, and I believe it does not pass this way on its southern flight, or, if 

 so, it certainly does not loiter. 



The specimen measures as follows : 



No. 621, $, 17.00x10.50; wing 5.21; bill 2.43; tarsus 1.21. 



Mackorhamphus griseus, (Gm.) Jjeaoh.—Bed-hreasted Snipe. 



Sexes are alike iu color. 



A very Snipe-Uke bird, with the bill exactly as in the last species, but readily dis-^ 

 tiuguished generically ; legs bare upwards of f of an inch, longer than luiddle toe and 

 claw ; outer and middle toes connected by an evident membrane ; tail of 12 feathers. 

 Tail and its coverts at all seasons conspicuously barred with black and white (or 

 tawny) ; lining of wings and armpits the same ; quills dusky ; shaft of first quill 

 and tips of middle ones, except the loug inner ones, Avhite ; bill and feet greenish-: 

 black. In summer, brownish-black above, variegated with bay ; below, brownish-red, 

 variegated with dusky ; a tawny stripe over the eye and a dark one from bill to eye ; in 

 winter, plain gray above and on the breast, with few or no traces of black and bay ; the 

 belly, line over eye, and under eyelid white. 10-11; wing 5-Ei; tail 2^; bill about 2^. 



Occurs throughout a large portion of Dakota during the migrations, 

 in flocks, and prefers the shores of the lakes instead of wet meadows. 



This Snipe passes north usually about the end of April, but often it is 

 delayed until the 10th of May. I have taken it in considerable numbers 

 at this time, and have always found it a prime bird for the table, being 

 often brought into requisition to supply the place of "quail on toast" 

 for breakfast. It returns to this region about the 20th of September, 

 from which time until the end of October, when it departs, it is the 

 most familiar Wader around the shores of our lakes. 



Ereijnetes pusillus, (Linn.) GasB.—lSemipalmated Sandpiper. 



Is seen here in large numbers from April 29th until about the 1st of 

 June, when its numbers rapidly diminish, and from that date until near 

 the end of July but few have been observed in this vicinity ; returns in 

 numbers early in August, and from that time forward until the lakes 

 commence to close, about :N^ovember 1, hundreds may be seen at a time 

 around the shores of any of the lakes. 



The speciinen measures as follows : 



No. 673, 9 , 12.00 X 6.40; wing 3.75; tail 1.70; tars. 0.77; m. t. & claw 0.83; bill 0.73. 

 Tringa minutilla, YieiM.— Least Sandpiper. 



Shares much the same habits here as the preceding species ; is very 

 common. 



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