BIEDS — SCOLOPACIDAE — TEINUEAE. 



713 



Sp. Ch. — Rather larger than the preceding [species, and with the bill and tarsi disproportionately longer, but much 

 resembling M. griseus in colors and general characters. Bill long, flattened and expanded towards the tip, where it is 

 punctulated and corrugated ; wing rather long ; shaft of first primary very strong ; tail short ; legs rather long. Colors very 

 similar to those of M. griseus, though perhaps with the upper parts more cinereous ; rump and upper tail coverts white, the 

 latter spotted and transversely barred with black ; under parts pale ferruginous, with circular spots on the neck and transverse 

 bars on the sides brownish black ; axillaries and under wing coverts white, barred and spotted- with brownish black. Young. 

 Ashy brown above, dull white beneath. Legs and bill dark brown. Total length, about 11^ inches ; wing, 5| ; tail, 2^ to 9| ; 

 bill, 2J to 3 inches; tarsus, 1^ inches. 



Hub. — Entire temperate regions of North America. Washington Territory, (Dr. Suckley.) New York, (Mr. J. G. Bell.) 



The only characters which appear to be reliable are those pointed out by Mr. Lawrence, as 

 above, which are the greater length of the bill and tarsi in the present species. It is, however, 

 nearly related to that immediately preceding, and, for the present, with numerous specimens of 

 both before us, we consider it but of doubtful validity as a species ; and its study is further 

 complicated by the fact that it bears a striking resemblance to the rare European species supposed 

 to be identical with the common bird of America, as will be seen in Gould's beautiful figure in 

 "Birds of Europe," vol. IV, pi. 323. The latter seems to be a little larger than our common 

 species. 



lAst of specimens. 



Tribe TRINGEAE. 



The variations in external form of Tringeae are very great, and have given occasion for the 

 construction of almost as many genera as species. Many of these genera are, however, 

 scarcely tenable, in many cases being scarcely indicative of more than specific characters. 



In none of the North American species, as far as observed, is there any indication of trans- 

 verse bands on the tail, as in Scolopaceae and Totaneae. The gape of mouth is much less than 

 in the latter. 



The following synopsis will serve to characterize the genera of Tringeae as adopted ; the 

 numerous sections of those with fully cleft anterior toes and the hinder one present, being all 

 considered as Tringa, under which genus the subdivisions will be found detailed. 



A. Toes cleft to the base, or with a very rudimentary membrane, which does not extend to 

 the first joint. 



TuiNGA. — Hind toe present. 

 Calidbis. — Hind toe wanting. 



B. Toes with a decided basal membrane. 



Ereunbtbs, — Bill straight, as long as the head, but equal to the tarsus. A web con- 

 necting all the toes at base, and between middle and outer, extending to the second 

 joint ; all the toes slightly .margined to the extremity. Legs short. Tibia with, 

 hexagonal scales. Tail doubly emarginate. Body stout. Middle toe equal to the tarsus. 



August 3, 1858. 



90 b 



