328 AMERICAN SNIPE. 



extending to near the tip, which is obtuse and probe-like, the edges soft 

 and obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear, very small. Lower mandible with 

 the angle extremely long and narrow, the sides nearly erect, with a groove 

 having several bars across it ; the end of both mandibles covered, after 

 death, with numerous prominences, or rather with reticular depressions, 

 leaving small prominences between them. 



Head rather small, oblong, narrowed anteriorly, the forehead elevated 

 and rounded. Neck rather short. Body rather full. Legs of moderate 

 length, slender ; tibia bare below, scutellate before and behind ; tarsus with 

 numerous scuteUa before, smaller ones behind, and reticulated sides ; toes 

 very slender, free, scutellate above, narrow and slightly margined beneath ; 

 first very small, third longer than the tarsus, fourth much shorter, but con- 

 siderably longer than second. Claws slightly arched, extremely compress- 

 ed, very acute, that of the third toe largest. 



Plumage very soft, rather full, blended, on the fore part of the head 

 very short. Wings of moderate length, narrow, sharp ; primaries broad, 

 tapering, but rounded, the first extremely small and pointed, the second 

 longest, the third very little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; se- 

 condaries broad, short, incurved, rounded, the inner very long, tapering, 

 as are the scapulars. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen rounded feathers. 



Bill brown, the granulated part towards the tip black. Iris hazel. 

 Feet bluish-grey, claws dusky. On the upper part of the head two brown- 

 ish-black longitudinal broad bands, separated by a narrower central pale 

 brown one, and with another pale brown band on each side from the biU 

 over the eye ; then a loral band of dark brown ; chin whitish ; neck pale 

 reddish-brown, spotted with brownish-black. The general colour of the 

 upper parts is brownish-black, variegated with pale reddish-brown, of 

 which latter colour are the outer edges of the scapulars and of the lateral 

 feathers on the anterior part of the back. Wing-coverts and inner se- 

 condaries similarly mottled, the smaller anterior coverts, the primary co- 

 verts, primary quills, and outer secondaries deep brown, more or less tipped 

 with white ; first quill white, dusky in the centre, second with the outer 

 edge brownish-white ; rump barred with yellowish-grey and dusky ; upper 

 tail-coverts similar, but the larger barred with brownish-red and black. 

 Tail-feathers brownish-black at the base,with a broad subterminal band 

 of brownish-red on the outer web of the two middle, and on both webs of 

 the rest, excepting the outer on each side, which is barred with brownish- 

 black and white, the black bars five ; the tips of all wliite. Anterior part 



