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Genus MACRORHAMPHUS. 



Scolopax apud Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 658 (1788). 

 Totanus apud Sabine in Frankl. Journey, Appendix, p. 41 (1823). 

 Limosa apud Say in Long's Expl. Rocky Mts. ii. p. 170 (1823). 

 Macrorhamphus, Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. 31 (1831). 

 Limnodromus apud Lembeye, Av. de la Isl. de Cuba, p. 91 (1850). 



This genus contains only one, somewhat peculiar species, which in general form, and especially 

 in that of the bill, resembles the Snipes (Gallinago), but in habits and in the webbing of the 

 feet is closely similar to the Totanidse, and in its changes of plumage, being rufous in the 

 summer and grey in winter, resembles the Godwits and Pseudoscolopax semipalmatus, a species 

 inhabiting the Eastern Palsearctic and Oriental Regions. 



The genus Macrorhamphus is a Nearctic and Neotropical one, being only known as a straggler 

 to the Old World. 



In habits the single species belonging to this genus comes near to the Sandpipers, fre- 

 quenting the same localities as they do, and frequently consorting with them. It is usually seen 

 in larger or smaller flocks, and obtains its food on the borders of pools and ponds, or on mud- 

 flats and damp meadows, frequently probing in the soft soil for the aquatic insects, worms, and 

 mollusks on which it feeds. When compelled to take to the water, it swims with ease ; and it 

 frequently wades far into the water in search of food. Its call-note resembles that of the 

 Sandpipers. Its nest is a mere depression in the ground or moss, scantily lined with leaves ; 

 and its eggs, four in number, are said to resemble closely those of some of the true Snipes. 



Macrorhamphus griseus, the type of the genus, has the bill more than twice the length of 

 the head, straight, slender, higher than broad at the base, compressed for more than half its 

 length, depressed, and widening slightly towards the tip ; both mandibles grooved nearly to the 

 tip ; the terminal portion of the bill with numerous small depressions, like the bill of Gallinago ; 

 nostrils linear, basal, rather small; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest, the inner secon- 

 daries pointed and longer than the fourth primary ; tail short, nearly even ; legs moderately 

 long, slender, tibia bare for about one third of its length ; tarsus compressed, scutellate ; hind 

 toe small, slender, elevated, the anterior toes slender, scutellate, slightly emarginate, webbed at 

 the base, the outer web large ; claws small, slender, slightly curved, that on the middle toe very 

 slightly dilated on the inner edge. 



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