SCOLOPACIDiE, SNIPE, ETC. — GEN. 204, 205. 253 



generically : legs long; tibite bare upwards of 2 of an inch; tarsus longer 

 than middle toe and claw ; outer and middle toes connected by an evident 

 membrane ; tail of 12 feathers. Tail and its coverts, at all seasons, conspic-' 

 iiously barred with black and white (or tawny) ; lining of wings, and axillars, 

 the same ; quills dusky, shaft of first primary, and tips of secondaries except 

 the long inner ones, white; bill and feet greenish-black. In summer, 

 brownish-black above, variegated with bay; below, brownish-red, variegated 

 with dusky ; a tawny superciliary stripe, and a dark one from bill to eye. 



Fig. int. Jvcil-brcasted Snipe; with end of Ijill, fi-oni aljove. 



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 e3'elid, white, 10-11 ; 

 wing 5-5J ; tail 2 J ; bill aliout 2J ; tarsus IJ; middle toe and claw IJ. 

 A variety of this bird is almost a foot long, the bill upward of 3 inches 

 {M. scolojMceus Lawe., Ann. Lye. 1852, 4, pi. 1; Cass, in Bd., 712). 

 North America, at lar-go ; abundant, migratory ; it generally flies in lai'ge 

 compact flocks, like the sandpipers and shore-birds generally, rather than 

 singly or in wisps like the true snipe ; and prefers the shores of bays and 

 estuaries, instead of wet meadows. Wils., vii, 45, pi. 58, f. 1; Nutt., ii, 

 181; AuD., vi, 10, pi. 351; Cass, in Bd., 712 griseds. 



4/^ 



205. Genus MICROPALAMA Baird. 



Stilt iSandjnper. Bill much as in the last genus, but shorter, less 

 evidently widened at the end and not so distinctly furrowed on top, some- 

 times perceptibly curved ; legs very long ; tibiaa bare an inch ; tarsus as long- 

 as the bill, both 1 J-tf ; feet semipalmate, the front toes being connected by 

 two evident webs ; middle toe 1. Length 8-9; wing 5 ; tail 2;^ ; plumao-e 

 resembling that of the last species, its changes the same. Adult in summer : 

 above blackish, each feather edged and tipped with white and tawny or bay, 

 which on the scapulars becomes scalloped; auriculars chestnut; a dusky 

 line from bill to eye, and a light reddish superciliary one ; upper tail coverts 

 white with dusky bars ; primaries dusky with blackish tips ; tail feathers 12, 

 ashy-gray, their edge and a central field white; under parts mixed reddish, 

 black and whitish, in streaks on the jugulum, elsewhere in bars; bill and 

 feet greenish-black. Young, and adult in M' inter : ashy-gray above, with or 

 without traces of black and bay, the feathers usually with white edgino- ; line 

 over the eye and under parts white, the jugulum and sides suffused with the 

 color of the back, and streaked with dusky; legs nsuallj^ pale. N. Am., 



