SANDPIPERS 



(231) Macrorhamphus griseus 

 griseus 



{Gmel.) (Gr., long, beak; Lat., gray). 



DOWITCHER; RED-BREASTED 

 SNIPE; GRAY SNIPE (winter). 

 Bill very long. Ads. in summ-er — 

 Plumage as shown, chiefly rich, 

 rusty red; rump and upper tail 

 coverts white, more or less barred; 

 In ■winter — Dark gray above, the 

 feathers with lighter edges; below 

 white, the breast being washed and 

 spotted with gray. L., 10.50; W., 

 5.75; Tar., 1.30; B,, 2.05 to 2.50. 



Range — Breeds within the Arctic 

 Circle. Migrates along the Atlantic 

 coast and in the interior. 



(231a) M. g. scolopaceus 



(Lat., snipe-like). 



LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 

 Chiefly west of the Mississippi. 



connecting links between Woodcock and the many species of 

 sandpipers. They have more slender forms than the former, 

 but have similar, long sensitive bills. 



On taking wing, Snipe utter a sharp, grating "scaipe, " 

 repeated several times as they zigzag away. Often, after 

 going to a considerable distance, they will suddenly turn 

 and return to the same spot from which they flushed. At 

 other times they will at once leave the meadow and, by their 

 cries, induce all others there to go with them. A few Snipe 

 nest within northern United States, but the majority of 

 them make their summer homes in the northern parts of 

 Canada. They are almost as highly esteemed by sportsmen 

 as Woodcock, both for the excellence of their flesh and the 

 high degree of skill necessary to bring them down. 



DOWITCHERS are birds that we know best during 

 migrations. Sportsmen usually term them Red-breasted 

 Snipe, or Gray Snipe when they are in the winter plumage. 

 They are separated into two varieties, the Long-billed 

 Dowitchers, which are supposed to keep to the west of the 



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