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Range (Eastern North America breeding) (III)

Eastern North America, breeding within the Arctic Circle, and wintering from Florida to South America.

Washington, casual, one specimen, Sept. Long Island, common T. V., May; July to Sept. 15.

Eggs, four, light buffy olive, distinctly spotted and speckled, especially about the larger end, with deep brown, 1.65 x 1.13 (Ridgw.). The Dowitchers are among our best-known Bay Birds. They migrate in compact flocks which are easily attracted to decoys by an imitation of their call. Mud-flats and bars exposed by the falling tide are their chosen feeding grounds. On the Gulf coast of Florida I have SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. seen several hundred gathered in such close rank that they entirely concealed the sandbar on which they were resting. 232. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say). LONG-BILLED DOW- ITCHER; WESTERN DOWITCHER. Ad. in summer.-Similar to the preceding, but averaging larger; the bill especially is longer, the under parts are more uniformly rufous, and the sides are more heavily barred with black. Ad. in winter and Im. - To be distinguished from the corresponding stages of M. griseus only by their larger size. W., 6.00; Tar., 1.50; B., 2-10-2-90. Range." Mississippi Valley and western province of North America from Mexico to Alaska; less common, but of regular occurrence along the Atlantic coast of the United States" (A. O. U.).

Washington, casual, seven shot in Apl. Long Island, casual, July to Oct. Eggs, four, not distinguishable from those of the preceding species. This is a bird of the interior and Western States, and occurs on our coasts as a rare but regular late fall migrant. It resembles the preceding species in habits, but the baymen who "gun" for Snipe say they can recognize it by its somewhat different notes. Like the Woodcock, Wilson's Snipe, and its near ally, M. griseus, the male utters a flight song in the nesting season. It is well described by Mr. E. W. Nelson in his Report on Collections made in Alaska, p. 101. 233. Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). STILT SANDPIPER. Ad. in summer. - Upper parts black, bordered with grayish and buffy; earcoverts and an indistinct line around the back of the head rufous; secondaries grayish, edged with white; primaries fuscous; rump ashy; upper tailcoverts barred with black and white; outer tail-feathers with broken dusky bars, inner ones with central streaks or margins of brownish gray or white; under parts white, heavily barred with fuscous. Ad. in winter. - Upper parts brownish gray; upper tail-coverts white; tail white, margined with brownish gray; under parts white; the throat, neck, and sides indistinctly streaked or washed with grayish. Im.-Similar to the preceding, but the upper parts blackish, margined with ochraceous-buff. L., 8.25; W., 5.00; Tar., 1.60; B., 1.55.