OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 207 



Allied forms. — Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus, an inhabitant of the 

 North-western Nearctic region ; Northern Neotropical region in winter. Probably 

 breeds from the valley of the Saskatchewan, northwards through the lake region 

 and the Mackenzie Valley to Banks Land, and westwards to Alaska and the 

 extreme north-east of Asia, in the Tchuski Land and Kamtschatka. It passes 

 down the Pacific coasts, and inland almost in a line with the Eocky Mountains, 

 and winters in Central America. It occasionally wanders to the Atlantic coasts ; 

 has been recorded inland in Asia as far east as the valley of the Lena ; and occurs 

 accidentally in Japan. This is the western form of the Eed-breasted Snipe, 

 Only subspecifically distinct, and completely intergrading with its more eastern 

 representative. Typical examples differ from the Eed-breasted Snipe in being 

 less spotted on the underparts in breeding plumage, and in having the lower back 

 less spotted in summer and winter alike. It is also said to be on an average a 

 slightly larger bird. M. taczanowsMi, an inhabitant, probably, of the valley of 

 the Lena in Siberia during summer, passing through Dauria and Mongolia on 

 migration, and wintering in China, Borneo, Burmah, and India. It differs from 

 both forms of the Eed-breasted Snipe in having the middle toe united at the 

 base by a web to both the adjoining toes, and the bill more than three inches 

 in length. 



fiabits. — The Eed-breasted Snipe is a rather late migrant, passing the 

 northern United States from the latter half of April to about the middle of May, 

 and arriving at its Arctic breeding grounds towards the end of that month. As is 

 the case with most Waders in which the young birds do not breed in their first 

 spring, many individuals pass the summer considerably south of the breeding 

 grounds, or even do not migrate north at all in spring, but remain during the 

 summer in their winter quarters. The return migration commences to a great 

 extent with the young birds that leave their birth-place almost as soon as they 

 can fly. These reach even such southern localities as the West Indies by the 

 end of July. During August and September the great bulk of birds pass south, 

 and then this species literally swarms in districts suited to its requirements. As 

 is usual, the autunm passage is made much more leisurely than the spring one, 

 and the migrating parties of a dozen or more individuals often remain for several 

 weeks in a district where food is abundant before passing on again. They are 

 said to be very tame birds whilst on passage, probably because most of them are 

 young and ignorant of man's persecutions. During autumn and winter the Eed- 

 breasted Snipe principally frequents the low, flat, muddy coasts, where abundant 

 food can be obtained, but less frequently it is found near inland swamps and 

 marshes. On the muds it runs about in the usual Sandpiper style, occasionally 

 wading through the shallows, and even swimming when it chances to get out of 

 its depth. When alarmed, the flock rises en masse, and settles again in the same 

 manner. The flight of this bird is quick and well-sustained, but is not characterised 



