SCOLOPACIN^. RECURVIROSTRA. 
251 
separated by bands of light red ; a brownish-black loral band, and a 
narrow irregular line of the same across the cheek, and continued to 
the occiput ; upper parts variegated with brownish-black, light yel- 
lowish-red, and ash-grey ; inner wing-coverts and secondary quills 
similarl}’ barred, the outer pale greyish-red, faintly barred with dusky ; 
quills brown, tipped with dull grey, secondaries spotted on the outer 
web with dull red ; upper tail-coverts barred ; tail-feathers brownish- 
black, their tips grey, their outer edges mottled with reddish ; sides of 
the neck grey, tinged with red ; lower part in general light red, tinged 
with grey on the breast, on the sides and lower wing-coverts deeper ; 
lower tail-coverts with a central dusky line, the tip white. Young 
with a longitudinal black band on the head. 
Malej 11, 16, Female, 11 j\, 17^. 
Distributed throughout the country. Extremely abundant in the 
Middle and Eastern Districts, as well as in the interior, where it breeds, 
as far as Nova Scotia, Equally abundant in winter in the Southern 
States, though many migrate southward. 
Scolopax minor, Gmel, Syst, Nat. v, i. p. 661. 
Woodcock, Scolopax minor, Wins. Amer, Orn. v, vi, p, 40, 
Scolopax minor, Bonap. Syn. p. 331. 
Lesser Woodcock, Nutt, Man. v. ii. p. 194. 
American Woodcock, Scolopax minor, Ann. Orn, Biog. v, iii, p. 474, 
GENUS VIII, RECURVIROSTRA, Linn. AVOCET. 
^ Bill twice the length of the head, very slender, much de- 
'‘pressed, tapering to a point, and slightly recurved ; upper 
mandible with the dorsal line straight for half its length, 
then a little curved upwards, and at the tip slightly de- 
curved, the ridge broad and flattened, the edges rather 
thick ; nasal groove rather long and very narrow ; lower 
mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal 
line slightly curved upwards, the point very slender, ex- 
tremely thin, and a little curved upwards. Nostrils linear, 
basal. Head small, rounded above, rather compressed ; 
neck long ; body compact. Legs very long, slender ; tibia 
bare for half 4ts length, and reticulated ; tarsus very long, 
compressed, reticulated with hexagonal scales ; toes rather 
short, the first extremely small ; outer toe a little longer 
than inner ; anterior toes connected’^^by webs of which the 
anterior margin is deeply concave. Claws very small. 
