SCOLOPACIDyE : THE SNIPE FAMILY. 



617 



The Terekia cimrea of varidus parts nf the Old Werld, with the hill recurved almost as in an 

 avocet, stands between the godwits and tattlers. 



c. The Sandpipers (Tringa, etc.) are a rather extensive group, notable for the variation 

 in minor details of form, that it shows with almost every species — a circumstance that has 

 caused the erection of a number of unnecessary genera. Here the bill retains much of the 

 sensitiveness of a snipe's, and the gape likewise is much restricted ; but the bill is rnucli 

 shorter, averaging about equal to the head. One trivial circumstance affords a good clue to 

 this group: the Uil-feathers are plain-colored, or whli simple edgings, while in almost all. 

 the species of other groups these feathers are barred crosswise. In this group the seasonal 

 changes of plumage are very great ; the proportions of the legs, and webbing of the toes, are 

 variable with the species, btit, as a rule, the toes are cleft to the base (not so in Micropalama 

 and EreimeUs), and four in number (except Calidris). The sandpipers belong particularly 

 to the northern hemisphere, and breed in high latitudes ; they perform extensive migrations, 

 and in winter spread over most of the world. Among them are tlie mcjst diminutive of waders. 



Fig. 433. — American Snipe, abont ^ nat. size, (From American Field 



They are probably without exception gregarious, and often fleck the beach in vast nmltitudes ; 

 they live by preference in open wet places, rather than in fens and marshes, and feed by prob- 

 ing, like snipe ; the voice is mellow and piping. They are pretty well distinguished from 

 both the foregoing, thfiugh Micropalama connects with the snipe through Wlacrorhamphus; 

 but shade directly into the Tattlers, through such genera as Tryngites and Tringoides. Nearly 

 all the forms of sandpipers are described in detail beyond. There are in all about 20 species. 

 The only generic fonii not represented in this country is the Limicola platyrlryiicha, tlie 

 peculiarity of which is expressed in its name. The Eurynorhynchus pygmmus, a wonderfii] 

 and exceedingly rare species, in which the bill is expanded and flattened at the end, somewh:it 

 as in the spoonbill, has lately been stated to occur on our Arctic coast. The singular Machetes 

 pugnax should perhaps rather come here than among 



