376 
RED-BREASTED SNIPE. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 1000; stretch, 16'75; wing, 5*75; tail, 2 25; 
bill, 2'55; tarsus, 1*32. Longest specimen, 11'75; greatest extent of wing, 17*25; longest wing, 6 50; tail, 2 50; bill, 2'75; 
tarsus, 1*50. Shortest specimen, 10*25; smallest extent of wing, 16 25; shortest wing, 5 00; tail, 2 00; bill, 2'40; tarsus, 
115. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs, placed on the ground in a slight depression of the soil, on a little grass, etc. They are from two to four in num¬ 
ber, pyriform in shape, varying from pale greenish-brown to yellowish-ash in color, spotted and blotched irregularly, and 
usually faintly, with light reddish-brown and umber Dimensions from l*05x 1*50 to 1'lOx 160. 
HABITS. 
There are few sportsmen, worthy of the name, who do not know the scape of Wilson’s 
Snipe as they rise from the wet meadows and pursue their rapid zigzag flight. When 
started from a spot in which they have been feeding, in spring, Snipe are quite apt to fly a 
short distance, then settle down again, but in autumn, they appear more restless and will 
often circle around, high in air, calling continually until joined by several others, when all 
will depart for some distant feeding ground. I found these Snipe very common along the 
borders of rivers and creeks in the Carolinas but I never met with them so abundantly as on 
the marshes of Indian River in Florida. Here they perfectly swarm, two or three rising 
at every step of the sportsman, and after flying a short distauce, will tamely settle down 
again. From this point southward, they are common and I even met with them on the 
borders of the fresh water ponds at Key West. Snipe migrate late in September as a rule, 
lingering for a time in New England and the Middle States, but by the first of November, 
the greater portion have departed, yet I have frequently shot them when the ground was, 
completely frozen, as they rose from the side of some open spring. 
On the Magdalen Islands, are certain swampy tracts of country, filled to a great depth 
with a black, muddy ooze and water which is of an icy coldness. The top of this morass 
is in many places covered with grass, weeds, and often bushes, but which never becomes 
firm enough to bear the weight of man. The light-footed Snipe, however, run over it with 
ease and it is here that they build their nests and raise their young in perfect safety. Al¬ 
most any time during the day in summer, the males may be heard uttering a peculiar win¬ 
nowing sound, while they circle about, high in air, darting suddenly to one side every time 
they give these notes. Wilson’s Snipe also deposit their eggs in similar bogs in Northern 
Maine. 
GENUS III. MACRORHAMPHUS. THE MARSH SNIPES. 
Gen. Ch. Bill , more than twice as long as head which is small. Marginal indentations, four-, outer deeper than inne> 
Coracoids, equal in length to height of keel. 
Stomach, flat in form, quite muscular and lined with a finely rugose membrane. Proventrieulus,small. Coeca,quiti 
long. Stemo-trachealis, thin and there is a weak bronchialis, but no other laryngeal muscles. Tympaniform membrane 
present. Sexes, similar. There is but one species within our limits. 
MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS. 
Red-breasted Snipe. 
Macrorhamphus griseus Leach, Cat. Brit. Mug.; 1816, 31. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sr. Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tongue, very long, thick, fleshy, ronnded at base, grooved through 
out its entire length, becoming thinner at tip and gradually pointed. 
