Eidgway on Macrorhamphus griseus, etc. 
157 
M. scolopaceus at Eastham, Mass., by Mr. Frank L. Tileston, Nov. 
2, 1878. 
I have never seen more than one at a time, although an old 
gunner informs me he has had a flock of five come in to his decoys. 
The following are my records of the bird in question : — 
Sept. 27 , 1873 . Shot a young female out of a small flock of Totanus 
flavipes ; when first seen it was supposed to be a Dowitcher, but at the 
same time I was struck with the large size and length of bill noticeable at 
quite a distance. (This was the first time I had seen the bird alive.) 
Sept. 28 , 1873 . One observed flying with a flock of Totanus flavipes. 
Sept. 15 , 1874 . Had a fine specimen alight within a few feet of my 
blind while Snipe-shooting ; it was very gentle, and I watched it for some 
time, but, on starting it up, failed to secure it. 
Sept. 25 , 1875 . Shot an immature bird in a salt pond on the marshes; 
peculiarity of note noticed. 
Aug. 7 , 1878 . Secured an adult specimen in summer plumage; came 
in to the decoys alone ; abdomen uniform pale rufous. 
Oct. 13 , 1878 . While lying for Ducks at a pond on the marshes early 
one morning, I heard the note of this bird from high overhead, but could 
not see it ; the next moment it darted down and settled alongside of a 
Duck decoy, notwithstanding the water was almost up to its breast, where 
I secured it. 
ON MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS (GMEL.) AND M. SCOLO- 
PACEUS (SAY). 
BY ROBERT R1DGWAY. 
Not being fully satisfied in my own mind as to the exact status 
of the bird called Macrorhamphus scolopaceus , and there being much 
variance of opinion among ornithologists concerning the bird in 
question, I was induced, some months since, to submit to a very 
close examination all the material at my command, and to carefully 
analyze all the published data bearing on the subject. The collec- 
tion of birds of this genus in the National Museum, while very ex- 
tensive (embracing no less than 75 specimens), was unfortunately 
deficient in examples from Eastern localities ; therefore the conclu- 
sion arrived at from the study of this material alone proved errone- 
ous, from the fact that nearly all were of the scolopaceus type, the 
