MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS : GRAY SNIPE. 



199 



and sides heavily shaded with gray, leaving chin whitish ; the 

 flanks and crissum with wavy, dusky spots or bars. Length) 

 10.25 to i°7S i extent, 18.00 ; wing, 5.25-5.90, average about 5.60 ; 

 tail, 2.50; tarsus, i. 20-1. 55, average 1.35; bill, 2.00-2.50, very 

 variable. (The alleged differences of the supposed variety 

 M. scolopaceus are given beyond.) 



A common spring and autumn migrant. It is also 

 considered by both Dr. Brewer and Mr. Boardman to be 

 a summer resident in northern 

 New England, but we have no defi- 

 nite advices of its breeding in our " 

 limits. It certainly nests very far 

 northward, even to the Arctic 

 Coasts of North America, though 

 many individuals re-appear among 

 us in August. The birds become 

 abundant during the following 

 month, and afford excellent sport 

 to the gunners. They frequent 

 mud-bars, flat and marshy mead- 

 ows, in flocks often of considera- 

 ble size, and are in good condition 

 for the table. 



Of several sets of eggs I have 

 examined, laid either by this spe- 

 cies or by var. scolopaceus, high 

 in boreal regions of the United 

 States, one set contains four eggs, 

 another three, another only two ; 

 but we must presume that four is 

 the regular nest-complement. The 

 eggs are not peculiar among their 

 allies in any respect, and probably no description would 



