BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, 
731 
GAMBETTA, Kaup. 
Gambetta, Kaup, Entw. Europ. Thierw 1829. Typo Scolopax calidris, L. (Gray.) 
Ch. —Bill much attenuated towards and tapering to tbe end, the extreme tip decurved, both culnien and gonys, however, 
bent upwards from the middle; the lateral grooves of upper bill broad, shallow, and not extending to the middle; that of lower 
reaching about as far. Feathers on side of both mandibles extend to about the same point, but fall short of nostrils ; those on 
chin extend as far as middle of nostril. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, which is times the length of middle toe. Outer 
toe webbed to first joint; the inner web very short; bare portion of the tibia equal to the toes; tip of tail about opposite the 
middle of outstretched tarsi; legs yellow. 
It is a question whether the American yellow legged sandpipers really belong to Gambetta or 
to Glottis. They agree with the latter in the upward bend of the hill, and with the former in 
not having the legs green. 
GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, (Gm.) Bon. 
Tell Tale; Stone Snipe. 
Scolopax melanoleucus , Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659. 
Tolanus melanoleucus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. 1816.— Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 750.— Aud. Orn. Biog. IY, 1838,68; pi. 308. 
Gambetta mclanoleuea, Bon. Comptes Rendus, Sept. 1856. 
Scolopax vociferus, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 57; pi. Iviii. 
Tolanus vociferus, Aud. Syn. 244.—In. Birds Amer. Y, 1842, 316; pi. 345. 
Tolanus sasashew, Vieillot, Diet. 1816. 
Sp. Ch .—Bill longer than the head, rather slender, curved towards the tip; wings rather long, first quill longest; tail short; 
neck and legs long, toes moderate, margined and flattened underneath, connected at base by membranes, the larger of which 
unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; claws short, blunt; grooves in both mandibles extending about half their length. 
Entire upper parts cinereous of various shades, dark in many specimens in full plumage, generally light with white lines on the 
head and neck and with spots and edgings of dull white on the other upper parts; lower back brownish black; rump and upper 
tail coverts white, generally with more or less imperfect transverse narrow bands of brownish black ; under parts white, with 
longitudinal narrow stripes on the neck and transverse crescent lanceolate and sagittate spots and stripes on the breast and 
sides; abdomen pure white ; quills brownish black with a purplish lustre, shaft of first primary white, secondaries and tertiaries 
tipped and with transverse bars and spots of ashy white; tail white, with transverse narrow bands of brownish black, wider and 
darker on the two middle feathers ; bill brownish black, lighter at the base; legs yellow. 
Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 1\ to 8 ; tail, 3£ to 3£; bill, 2 \; tarsus, inches. 
Sab —Entire temperate regions of North America; Mexico. 
A large and handsome species, abundant throughout the United States. 
