SCOLOPACIDaE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — LIMOSA. 
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the crown, nape, and lores streaked with dusky. Axillars and lining of the wing white, irregularly 
barred and spotted with dusky grayish. Winter plumage : Above, plain brownish gray, beneath, 
plain whitish ; rump, upper tail-coverts, tail, axillars, etc., as in summer. Young: Above, includ- 
ing wing-coverts, light grayish buff, or pale clay-color, coarsely and irregularly spotted with dusky, 
the latter chiefly along the centres of the feathers, and showing as conspicuous shaft-streaks on the 
wing-coverts ; lower parts huffy whitish, shaded across the jugulum and breast with deeper grayish 
buff ; in other respects like the adult. 
Total length, about 16 inches ; wing, 8.25-9.15 ; culmen, 3.15-3.55 ; tarsus, 2.00-2.20 ; middle 
toe, 1.10-1.20. 
There is considerable variation among individuals in the depth and continuity of the cinnamon- 
color on the lower surface. 
The relationship of this form is unquestionably very close to L. lapponica, of which it cannot 
be considered more than a geographical race or sub-species, the differences being very slight, 
although apparently constant. These consist in the rather paler shade of cinnamon on the lower 
parts in the summer plumage, and in the grayish instead of distinctly white rump, in all stages of 
plumage. 
Australian examples appear to be quite identical with those from Alaska. 
This species is included in the fauna of North America as a summer resident of 
Alaska Territory, where it was met with by Mr. Dali while engaged on the Telegraph 
Expedition. Its discovery as a bird of Alaska was one of the most interesting among 
the results of that survey, as its existence in North America had not been even sus- 
pected before it had been thus taken. 
So far as had been previously ascertained, its range, during the winter months, 
had been over Polynesia, Australia, Eastern and Southern Asia, and Japan. In 
summer it was known to go north to Siberia, where Middendorff found it breeding 
on the Taimyr River, in latitude 75° N. Specimens from Polynesia were brought 
home by the United States Exploring Expedition. 
Mr. Swinhoe mentions that a pair of this species was observed feeding in company 
with a large flock of Godwits in the shallows of the creek at Hungpe, on the Island of 
Hainan, on the 30th of March. They were secured, and proved to be very nearly in 
full summer plumage. Three days later another example, in the full winter plumage, 
was obtained on the sandy shores of Hoehow Harbor. 
Captain F. W. Hutton (“Ibis,” 1871) states that this bird was seen several times 
on the Chatham Islands, although he did not succeed in obtaining any specimens. 
These examples were apparently only migratory, leaving the Islands in winter. 
In the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, 1858, Mr. Cassin refers to a 
species of Limosa from Japan, which Mr. Swinhoe states to be probably this one. 
Both Mr. Swinhoe (“Ibis,” 1875) and Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer mention its 
occurrence in different parts of Japan, especially Yeso and Yokohama. The Messrs. 
Layard (“Ibis,” 1878, p. 262) cite this species as a bird of New Caledonia. 
Mr. Dali states that this species was very common at the month of the Yukon 
River, and also on the Pastolik marshes to the north of it. It is the largest Snipe 
found in the country, being quite as large in body as a Teal, and very excellent eating. 
He adds that it lays two light-olivaceous and spotted eggs in a rounded depression 
in a sedge tussock, and that the nest consists of a lining of dry grasses. 
Mr. H. W. Elliott met with this species from time to time during his stay on the 
Prybilof Islands, and speaks of it as only migratory there, and never breeding. It 
comes in a straggling manner early in May, passing northward with but little delay, 
and re-appearing toward the end of August in flocks of from a dozen to fifty. 
A set of these eggs, two in number, are in the Smithsonian Collection. One of 
these measures 2.25 inches in length by 1.45 in breadth. The ground-color of one is 
