SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MICROPALAMA. 
201 
Genus MICROPALAMA, Baird. 
Hemipalama, Bonap. Synop. 1828, 310 (type, Tringa liimamtopus, Bonap. ; nec Bonap. Obs. 
Wilson, 1825, no. 212, which includes only Tringa semipahnaM, Wils. ). 
Micropalama, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 726 (type, Tringa himantopus, Bonap.). 
Char. Form slender, the legs very long, the bill long and much compressed, the anterior toes 
all webbed at the base. Tarsus nearly twice as long as the middle toe, which is a little shorter 
than the bare portion of the tibiae, this scutellate before and behind, like the tarsus. Bill slender, 
straight, about equal to the tarsus, greatly compressed, except at the end, which is decidedly ex- 
panded laterally. Tail nearly even, but the central and exterior feathers usually perceptibly 
longer than the rest. Wings long and pointed. 
The present genus, with a basal membrane to all the anterior toes, as in Ereunetcs, has this a 
little more deeply emarginate ; the bill and legs much longer ; the former more curved. The bare 
portion of tibia is covered before and behind by transverse scutellse, like the tarsus. The tail 
is nearly even, with a double emargination. The middle toe is not two thirds the length of the 
tarsus, but about equal to the bare portion of the tibia. The bill is much pitted at the end in the 
dry skin. 
In many respects this species approaches the Snipes, and its true place is probably very near 
Macrorliamphus. The legs, however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of being- 
much shorter. 
Micropalama himantopus. 
THE STILT SANDPIPER. 
Tringa himantopus, Bonap. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. II. 1826, 157. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 380. 
— Aud. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 332, pi. 334 ; Synop. 1839, 235 ; B. Am. V. 1842, 271, pi. 334. 
Tringa (Hemipalama) himantopus, Bonap. Specc. Comp. 1827, 61. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 138. 
Micropalama himantopus, Cass, in Baird’s B. N. Am. 1858, 726. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 
536. — Coues, Key, 1872, 253 ; Check List, 1873, no. 416 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 611 ; Birds N. W. 
1874, 480. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 528. 
Hemipalama multistrigata, Gray, Gen. B. III. 1849, 578, pi. 156. 
Tringa Bouglasii, Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 379, pi. 66. 
Tringa (Hemipalama) Douglasii, Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 141. 
Tringa ( Hemipalama ) Auduboni, Nutt. t. c. 141. 
Hab. Eastern Province of North America, Middle America, and greater part of South 
America ; breeding north of the United States, and visiting the southern localities in winter ; 
Bermudas; West Indies, in general; Brazil; Peru. Not recorded from west of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
Sp. Char. Adult, summer plumage : Above, variegated with black, whitish gray, and pale buff, 
the first prevailing on the back and scapulars ; wings rather dark gray, the feathers edged with 
paler ; primaries dusky slate ; rump grayish, the feathers with darker centres ; upper tail-coverts 
white, the longer ones barred, the anterior ones longitudinally marked with dusky. Middle tail- 
vol. i. — 26 
