238 
ZOOLOGY. 
voice, and general appearance, this species on the west coast retains all the individual charac¬ 
teristics noted in eastern birds. This fact, together -with the total absence of any skins in the 
Smithsonian collection, indicating the existence of another species of this genus in our northwest, 
leads me to judge, with Mr. Cassin, that there is but little probability that either the so-called 
S. Drummondii, or the S. Douglassii, exist in nature. A few remain and breed during the 
summer in the neighborhood of Puget Sound, but the greater portion retire to the north for 
that purpose. Near Fort Steilacoom they are abundant in spring and fall on the marshes around 
the small lakes in that vicinity, and also in the thickeLcovered swamps near the mouths of the 
Nisqually, Puyallup, and other rivers.—S. 
The American snipe is not uncommon in the Territory during the migrating season, and I 
think a few remain throughout mild winters, but most of this species seem to go on at once to 
the plains of California, where I saw them in jmmense numbers in November. In habits, flight, 
and the peculiar quacking cry when startled, they precisely resemble the same bird near the 
Atlantic. I saw them near the Columbia in August.—C. 
MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS, (Gmelin,) Leach. 
Gray Snipe ; Red-breasted Snipe. 
Scolopax grisea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1,1788,658, No. 27. 
Macrorhamphus griseus, “ Leach, Catal. Brit. Mus. 1816, 31.”— Stephens, Shaw. Gen. Zool. XII, 1824, 61.— Bon. Am 
Orn. IV, 1832,51; pi. xxiii.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 712. 
Scolopax noveboracensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 658, No. 28.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 45; pi. lviii.—Sw. F. Bor. 
Am. II, 1831,398.—Acu. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 288; pi. 339 .—Ib. Syn. 249 .—Ib. Birds Amer. 
YI, 1843, 10; pi. 351. . 
Sp. Ch. —Rather smaller than the preceding; bill long, compressed, flattened and expanded towards the end, and in the 
same space punctulated and corrugated; wing rather long; shaft of first primary strong; tail short; legs rather long. Adult; 
Upper parts variegated with dark ashy, pale reddish and black, the latter predominating on the back; rump and upper tail 
coverts white, the latter spotted and barred transversely with black. Under parts pale ferruginous red, with numerous points 
and circular spots of brownish black on the neck before, and transverse bands of the same on the sides and under tail coverts; 
axillavy feathers and under winy coverts white, spotted and transversely barred with black. Quills brownish black; shaft of first 
primary white; tail brownish black, with numerous transverse bands of ashy white, and frequently tinged with ferruginous, 
especially on the two middle feathers; bill greenish black; legs dark greenish brown. Younger : Entire under parts dull white, 
strongly marked with dull ashy on the neck in front, and transverse bands of the same on the sides; axillary feathers and under 
wing coverts white, spotted with brownish black; upper parts lighter than in the adult. Total length about 10 inches; wing, 
5|; tail, 2£; bill, 2£; tarsus, 1^ inch. 
Hab. —Entire temperate regions of North America. 
Quite common in autumn near Fort Steilacoom. A few also remain throughout the summer 
and breed. A female specimen (371) killed May 5,1856, near Fort Steilacoom, from the appear¬ 
ance of her plumage appeared to be then incubating. It measured 11|-19, bill 3iV* In that 
vicinity the young “of the year” begin to appear on the edges of brackish pools and in other 
places abounding in their favorite food in August, and during the following two months birds 
of the species, of all ages, are very abundant.—S. 
The red-breasted or robin snipe is not very abundant, and associates in flocks, with several 
species of small sandpipers, during spring and fall, along the edges of salt marshes and flats 
near the coast.—C. 
’- Mr. Cassin attributes M. scolopaceus to Washington Territory, on authority of Dr. Suckley, but mentions no specimen 
resembling it except this one.—(See Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 868.)—C. 
