252 SCOLOPACIDiE, SNIPE, ETC. GEN. 202, 203, 204. 



shade; $ 10-11; $ 11-12; extent 16-18; wing 4J-5 ; bill 2^-3; tarsus 

 IJ ; middle toe and claw 1^ ; weight 5-9 oz. Bogs, swamps, wet woodland 

 and iields, Eastern U. S. and Canada. Wils., vi, 40, pi. 48, f. 2; Nutt., 

 ii, 194; AuD., vi, 15, pi. 352; Cass, in Bd., 709 minor. 



202. Genus SCOLOPAX Linnaeus. 



li ! - European Woodcock. First primary alone attenuate ; wings more pointed 

 than in the last; one-third larger; weight 12-15 oz. This bird has not 

 hitherto been formally introduced to our fauna in any systematic treatise ; 

 but there are several authentic instances of its capture in this country, and 

 it is unquestionably entitled to a place here, as a straggler from Europe. 

 See Lewis, American Sportsman, ed. of 1868, p. 169, footnote (New 

 Jersey) ; Lawe., Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1866, 292 (Ehode Island and New Jersey) ; 

 Baird, Am. Jonrn. Sci. xli, 1866, 25 (Newfoundland). Sportsmen who get 

 a bird of this sort, will do well to report the fact at once. Of all the snipe- 

 like birds of this country, called "Scolopax," the present is the only one to 

 which the name is strictly applicable rustigola. 



, 203. Genus GALLINAGO Leach. 



ji. . American Snijje. Wilson's Snijje. Bill much longer than the head, 



perfectly straight, soft to the end, where it is somewhat widened and grooved 

 on top ; gape narrow, not reaching beyond base of culmen ; ear luider eye ; 

 tibite feathered not quite to the joint ; tarsus a little shorter than middle toe 

 and claw ; toes perfectly free. Crown black, with a pale middle stripe ; 



back varied with black, bright bay and tawny, 



'the latter forming two lengthwise stripes on the 



scapulars ; neck and breast speckled with brown 



and dnsky ; lining of wings barred with black and 



white; tail usually of 16 feathers, barred with 



black, white and chestnut ; sides waved with 



dusky ; belly dull white ; quills blackish, the outer 



white-edged. Length 9-11 ; wings 4J-5^ ; bill 



about 2J ; Avhole naked portion of leg and foot 



about 3. This is the genuine snipe, of all the 



birds loosely so called; its name of "English" 



snipe is a misnomer, as it is indigenous to this 



country, and distinct from any European species, though closely resemblino- 



one of them. Open wet places of North America, at large ; migratory. 



Wils., vi, 18; pi. 47, f. 2; Nutt., ii, 185; Aud., v, 339, pi. 350^ Cass. 



in Bd., 700. Scolopax drwnmondii and 8. douglasii Sw., F. B.-A., ii, 



401; S. leiccurus Id., ibid. 501 avilsonii. 



204. Genus MACRORHAMPHUS Leach. 



Vv 



u\ Bed-breasted Snipe. Gray Snipe. Brown-baclc. Dowitclier. A very 

 snipe-like bird, with the l)ill exactly as in GaUinago, Init readily distinguished 



