FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



237 



P. Wing, 10-12; bill, 5-8J (very young, 2^5) ; axillars^ rich, darli 



buff, usually without any bars 27. Long-billed Curlew. 



P. Wing, 8J-10J ; bill, 2|-4i; axillars barred. ,28. Hudsonian Curlew. 

 P. Wing, 7|-8:; ; bill, 2-2 J ; axillars barred 29. Eskimo Curlew. 



1. American Woodcock (228. Philbhela minor). — A common, 

 niuddy-wood-living, long-billed, short-legged, much-mottled, 

 brown snipe, with eyes 

 far back on the head, 

 and the back of the 

 crown with two dark 

 cross stripes ; the three 

 outer primaries are ab- 

 ruptly shorter than the 

 fourth and are pecul- 

 iarly narrow and stiff. 

 The soft muddy places 

 where these game birds 

 get their food by the 

 use of their long, pli- 

 able, sensitive bills are 

 usually in or near woody tracts. These birds are particularly 

 noted for their nocturnal, spiral flights in the air, which have 

 been called " sky dances." They migrate by night to places 

 where soft ground is to be found. 



Length, 11 ; wing, 5|- (4J-5|) ; tail, 2J^ ; tarsus, IJ ; culmen, 2J-3. 

 Eastern North America, north to the British Provinces and west to Kan- 

 sas ; breeding throughout. The European Woodcock (227. Scdlopax 



rusticola) is a larger 

 bird, but similar in ap- 

 pearance. It does not 

 have the three narrow 

 outer primaries. Wing, 

 7-8; culmen, 3-3J. Ac- 

 cidental in eastern North 

 America. 



2. Wilson's Snipe 



(230. Gallindigo deli- 

 WUson's Snipe c^*")- — A common 



American Woodcock 



