34 BIRDS OP ILLINOIS. 



16. Tryngites. SizesmalUalittlelargerthan^eiitisJibmsmallandslender 

 (shorter than the head, about equal to the middle toe), the lateral groove 

 reaohing nearly to the tip ; gape reaching back of the oulmen ; middle toe 

 more than half as long as the tarsus; inner webs of auills and under 

 primary-coverts beautifully speckled. 



C. 



17. EnrynorhynahuB. Size small (among the smallest of the family); bill 

 widely expanded laterally at the end; otherwise, much as in Acto-^ 

 dramas. 



D. Ufumeninw.) 



18. NumeniuB. Size large to very large (wing 7 inches or more); bill long 

 (much longer than tarsus), decidedly deourved or arched. 



Of the above, the following genera are not represente(i, so far 

 as known, in the bird-fauna of Illinois: Scolopax, embracing 

 the European Woodcock {S. rmticola), which is merely acci- 

 dental in the Atlantic States; Heteractitis, which embraces 

 two species of Wandering Tatler,(Zr. vmcmus and H. hrevipes), 

 belonging to the sjjiores and islands of the Pacific ; and Ev/ryno- 

 rhyhchm, including only the remarkable Spoonbill Sandpiper 

 (E. pygmoms) , a bird of eastern Asia, which has occurred accidental- 

 ly in Alaska. ^ 



Subfamily Scolopacinse. 



Chae. Bill straight, longer than the tarsus and middle toe ; back of tarsus with a con- 

 tinuous row of transverse scutellse. Ears situated directly underneath the eyes ; tip of up- 

 per mandible thickened, with cutting-edges brought near together; plumage the same at 

 all stages and seasons. 



Genus FHILOHEIjA Gray. 



Philokela 0bat, List Genera, 1841, 90. Type, SicolopcKK minor G-mbij. 



Ohab. Body very full, and head, bill, and eyes very large. Tibia short, feathered to 

 joint. Toes cleft to base. Wings short, rounded, the three outer primaries very narrow 

 and much attenuated; the fourth and fifth equal to the longest. Tarsi stout, shorter than 

 the middle toe. Hind claw very short, conical, not extending beyond the toe. Tail of 

 twelve feathers. 



The present genus, embracing a single species, Ih^ American Woodcock, is much like 

 Scolopax, with the European 'Woodcoek as type, in color and external appearance. The 

 most striking difference is seen in the wings, which are short, rounded; the fourth and 

 fifth primaries longest and the outer three abruptly attenuated; while in ScolopcKc the 

 wings are long, the first primary longest, and none attenuated. 



Fhiloh.ela minor Gmel. 



AMEBICAN WOODCOCK. 



Popular synonyms. Bog-sucker; Mud Snipe; Blind Snipe. 



Soolopaa minor Qmbl. S. N. 1, 1788, 661.— Wilb. Am. Orn. vi, 1812, 40, pi. 48. flg. 2.- 

 Aur. Orn. Biog. lii, 1835, 474, pL 268. 



