SNIPICS, SAXDI’IPERS, ETC. 151 
     
    
   
   
    
     and pass the winter in flocks, but the_' are not gregarious during the 
     
     nesting season. 
     
    

    
     'J‘heir lone; bills serve the. purpose of both probes and forceps. 
     
     Most of the species probe the soft nuul for food, while some are known 
     
     to have the power of moving the upper inaudible independently of 
     
     the. lower one. curving it at the tip as one would a finger. 
     
    

    
     Snipes are not supposed to be song birds, but, during the breeding 
     
     season many species are highly and peculiarly musical. and at other 
     
     times of the year they utter cluu‘acteristie whistles. These are sus- 
     
     ceptible. of imitation, and the birds are quick to respond to an imita- 
     
     tion of their notes. The sportsman concealed in his “blind,” there- 
     
     fore. calls to passing: birds. and with the aid of wooden decoys easily 
     
     draws them within gunshot. 
     
    

    
     I\'l£\' TU 'l'llli Sl’lit‘l}.$. 
     
     I. Bill "."UO or over. 
     
     A. Axillars’” barred with black. 
     
     It. Hill curved do“ nward. 
     
    
   
   
    
     ul. Iiil10\'erfi$'lm. under-1'30, . . . . . 265. llt‘nsoxmx ('t‘nLEw. 
     
     a”. Bill under 251”) . . . . . . . , . . 2'36. EEKIMO ('t'uLEw. 
     
     (13. Bill event-.30 . . . . . , . . 264. LUNG-BILLED CL'RLEW. 
     
    
   
   
    
     1). Bill straight or cul‘Vcd slightly upward. 
     
     b1. Tail»t'cutltcrs with numerous black burs. 
     
     [1“. Wing ever 7'00. primaries black or t'useous. 
     
     )4. Mount: YELLOW—LEGS. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     As. Wing over T‘NI. inner we]- of primm ics bull or rut'ous. 
     
     ‘MU. MARBLED (lonwi'r. 
     
     11‘. Wing under 7'00. bill widened and pitted at the tip. 
     
     231. ])4I\\’l'[(‘lIl-ll{. 23:2. I.o,\'n~mi.i.i:n Dowtrt'nxn. 
     
     (4. Tail black with a hrozid rut'ous tip or marked with rut'ous, 
     
     (-3. “liter web of primary with rufous bars. 
     
     23‘ lil‘uormx \Voonmrx. 
     
     e3. l’rimuries not barred . . . . . . . . 23‘). \VILsoN‘s an-E. 
     
     B. Axill: 's not. baited. 
     
     (I. Axillurs rutous or (K'lll‘llk'l‘{\11.\'*l|llll', 
     
     (11. Bill over Froo. much curred downward. 
     
     9114. T.o.\'G~inLi.i:n (‘t'RLEw. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     :19. Bill nearly straight. between 3'50 and 5‘00. 
     
     219. Mnmmn (:oanT, 
     
     n3. Billstruight.nnder 3'50 . . . . . 22*, Annuimx Wooncocx. 
     
     it. Axillurs black. ' 
     
     71‘. L'udcr parts chestnut—ruthns. barred with Mark. 
     
     2.11. llt'nsoxmx ('ionwr'r. 
     
     1,7. l'uder parts white. with or without blackish lmrs. 
     
     25s. Wirriri’. L'Sw. \sz'rfinx \\'li.i.r.'r. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     "‘ See Fig. 64.