726 
U. S, P. R, E, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT 
MICROPALAMA, Baird. 
Hemipalama, Bon. Synopsis, 1828, 316. Type Tringa himantopus, Bon. Not of Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 212, which 
includes only Tringa semipalmata, Wilson. 
The present genus, with a basal membrane to all the anterior toes, as in Ereunetes, has this 
a little more deeply emarginate ; the bill and legs much longer ; the former more curved. The 
hare portion of tibia is covered before and behind by transverse scutellae, like the tarsus. The 
tail is nearly even, with a single emargination. The middle toe is not two-thirds the length of 
tarsus, and about equal to the bare portion of the tibia. The bill is much pitted at the end in 
the dry skin. 
In many respects this species approaches the snipe, and its true place is probably very 
near Macrorhamplms. The legs, however, are much longer, and equal to the bill, instead of 
much shorter. 
A reference to the original article on Hemipalama, by Bonaparte, in Obs. Wilson, 1825, will 
show that the genus was established for Tringa semipalmata , and, consequently, cannot be used 
for the present species. 
MICROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS, ( B o' n.) Baird. 
• Stilt Sandpiper. 
Tringa himantopus, Bon. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. II, Dec. 1826, 157.—Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 380.— Aud. Ora. Biog. IV, 
1838, 332; pi 314.— Ib. Syn. 235 — Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 271; pi 334. 
Tringa ( Hemipalama ) himantopus, Bonap. Specchio Comp. 1827, No. 187.— Ib. Syn 1828, 316.— Ib. Am. Orn. IV, 1832, 
89; pi. xxv.— Nutt. Man. II, 138. 
Ilemipalama himantopus, Bon. List, 1838. 
? Tringa douglassi, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 379; pi. lxvi. 
Tringa ( Ilemipalama ) audubonii, Nutt all, Man II, 1834, 140. (Based on description of Tringa himantopus, in F. B. Am.) 
Hemipalama mullistriata, “Licht.” G. R. Gray, Genera, III, 578. 
Figures. —Sw. and Rich Faun Bor. Am. II, pi. 66.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 344, Oct. ed. V, pi. 334.—Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, pi. 
25, fig. 3. 
Sp. Ch. —Legs long, slender; toes slender, united at base with webs, the outer of which is the larger; hind toe small. Bill 
long, somewhat arched, slender, much compressed, expanded, and flattened at the tip, which is minutely punctulated and 
corrugated; wings long, pointed; tail short; middle feathers longest; outer feathers frequently longer than the next; under 
coverts long; lower half of the tibia naked. Upper parts brownish black, nearly all the feathers edged with ashy white and 
yellowish red; narrow band from above the eye to the occiput bright brownish red, (inclosing the brownish black of the top of 
the head; spot on the ears the same red; rump and upper tail coverts white, with transverse narrow stripes and pointed spots of 
brownish black. Under parts ashy white, tinged with pale reddish, with numerous longitudinal stripes of brownish black on the 
neck, and with transverse stripes of the same on the other under parts; axillary feathers white; under wing coverts ashy white; 
bill and legs greenish black. 
Young? Very slight traees of the red on the ears and occiput; line from the base of the bill over the eye white; entire upper 
plumage paler and more tinged with ashy than in the preceding. Entire under parts pale ashy white, tinged with dull yellow, 
and with small and obscure spots of dark brownish on the breast; abdomen, and under tail coverts nearly pure white, (without 
the transverse stripes, as in the preceding plumage;) rump and upper tail coverts white. 
Total length, about 8£o 9 inches ; wing, 5£; tail, 2^ ; bill, If; tarsus, 1| inches. 
Ilab .—Eastern North America. 
This curious and very remarkable sandpiper appears to be restricted to the countries east of 
the Rocky mountains. We have no doubt that all the above given names apply to one species, 
though amongst numerous specimens before us there are some differences in size and length of 
legs, but not sufficient for specific character. 
