PHIL OREL A MINOR. 
373 
ago and the other was taken at Magnolia on the nineteenth of September, 1869; another 
was shot near the same place shortly after. Both of these latter named specimens were run¬ 
ning along the border of a small, fresh water pond situated near the shore. Out of the 
large number of small Phalaropes seen off the coast, it is possible that some may prove to 
be of this species. The Red Phalaropes appear to be much more maritime than the others, 
seldom being found in the interior. They breed in the Arctic Zone, like all Phalaropes, 
placing the eggs on the ground. The males of this and the preceding species, are said to 
be duller in color than the females and to perform the duties of incubation. 
FAMILY Y. SCOLOPACIBJEv THE SNIPES, ETC. 
Bill, variable in length but grooved throughout , and covered with a soft skin at tip. 
Marginal indentations, two or four. 
This is a large family and, like all the present order, the members present quite va¬ 
riable characters; thus it is exceedingly difficult to find any one peculiarity possessed by 
all the genera. The bill is either greatly lengthened or shorter than the head and is much 
curved, straight, or even recurved. The stomach is muscular or soft, with a large or small 
proventriculus. The intestines are small and long or large and short. Coeca, long or near¬ 
ly rudimentary. The laryngeal muscles are variable. The above given characters repre¬ 
sent the extremes, while there are every possible gradation between the two limits, and 
other peculiarities of form, which are given under generic and specific characters. 
GENUS I. PHILOHELA. THE WOODCOCKS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, less than twice the length of the head which is rather large. Legs, short, with tibia feathered to tarsal 
joint. Three outer feathers of primaries, attenuated. Keel, equal in height to width of sternum. Marginal indentations, 
two, small Coracoids, somewhat exceeding in length the height of keel. 
The stomach is oval in form and quite muscular, with a hard, rugose membrane. The proventriculus is large. The 
intestines are small but long and the coeca very short. Sterno-treachealis, quite stout. Bronchialis, quite well developed 
and there is a.slight broncho-trachealis, extending over two half rings, while a singular accessory muscle which is mem¬ 
branous, emerges from the lower portion of the trachea and spreading triangularly adheres to the bronchials above, and 
below, to the rudimentary manubrium. Tympaniform membrane, present but there is no os transversale. Sexes, similar. 
There is but one species within our limits, which is more or less nocturnal. 
PHILOHELA MINOR. 
American Woodcock. 
Philohela minor Gray, List Genera; 1841. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Tongue, fleshy, long, thin, and slender, narrowing toward tip which is point¬ 
ed but not horny. Sternum, stout. 
Coi.or. Adult. Above, ashy-brown, irregularly banded with yellowish-rufous, mottled on the back with ashy, and 
coarsely marked with dark velvety-brown. Line from bill to eye, short line on ear coverts, top of head and tail, dark-brown, 
with the two latter banded with yellowish-rufous and the tail is tipped with ashy above and white beneath. Forehead to 
eye, ashy. Sides of head and under parts, reddish-buff, palest centrally, and tinged with ashy on neck. Under tail cov¬ 
erts, streaked with black and tipped with white. 
Young. Quite similar to the adult but much more richly colored below and darker above, where the dark markings 
are rather irregular. 
Nestlings. Are covered with a reddish-buff down, marked above with very dark-brown much as in the adult. Bill, 
feet, and iris, brown, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the three peculiarly attenuated outer primaries, form, and colors as described. Distributed in sum¬ 
mer, throughout Eastern North America; wintering in the South. 
