344 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



distinguish it from the Woodcock, and others of the same genus. It 

 arrives in Pennsylvania about the tenth of March, and remains in the 

 low grounds for several weeks ; the greater part then move off to the 

 north, and to the higher inland districts, to breed. A few are occa- 

 sionally found, and consequently breed, in our low marshes during 

 the summer. When they first arrive they are usually lean : but when 

 in good order they are excellent eating. These birds are not found in 

 the salt marshes of the coast, except on their borders, where there 

 happen to be fresh water springs ; consequently their flesh is never 

 sedgy. In places where they are not sought after by epicures and 

 sportsmen, they become tame, excessively fat, and are then an ex- 

 quisite morsel. 



Woodcock. This bird, like the preceding, is universally known to 

 our sportsmen. It arrives in Pennsylvania early in March, sometimes 

 sooner. During the day they keep to the woods and thickets, and at 

 the approach of evening seek the springs, and open watery places to 

 feed in. They soon disperse themselves over the country to breed. 

 About the beginning of July, particularly in long continued hot wea- 

 ther, they descend to the marshy shores of our large rivers, their 

 favourite springs and watery recesses inland being chiefly dried up. 



To the former of these retreats they are pursued by the merciless 

 sportsman, flushed by dogs, and shot down in considerable numbers. 

 This species of amusement, when eagerly followed, is still more 

 labourious and fatiguing than that of Snipe-shooting ; and from the 

 nature of the ground, or cripple as it is usually called, viz. deep mire, 

 intersected with old logs which are covered and hid from sight by 

 high reeds, weeds and alder bushes, the best dogs are soon tired 

 out. The Woodcock usually begins to lay in April. The nest is 

 placed on the ground, in a retired part of a field, or the woods, fre- 

 quently at the root of an old stump, and generally near a cripple. The 

 female lays four, sometimes five, eggs, of a dun clay colour, thickly 

 marked with spots of brown, and interspersed with others of a very 

 pale purple. In a moderate season the Woodcock has been known to 

 lay in February. 



This bird, in its general figure and manner, greatly resembles the 

 W T oodcock of Europe, but it is considerably less, is differently mark- 

 ed below, and is a distinct spe.cies. Its food consists of various larva? 

 and other aquatic worms, for which .during the evening it is almost 

 continually turning over the leaves with its bill, or searching in the 

 bogs. Its flesh is highly prized. The flight of the Woodcock is slow, 

 and he is easily shot. The notion that there are two species of Wood- 

 cock in this country probably originated from the great difference of 

 size between the male and female, the latter being considerably the 

 larger. 



Red-breasted Sandpiper. Birds of the Sandpiper genus are not dis- 

 tinguished, by common observers, from the Snipes, so nearly do they 

 resemble each other. Naturalists, however, have given us the cha- 

 racteristic designations of each, which convince us of the importance 

 of system in our inquiries into the operations of Nature. Yet it must 

 be confessed that we sometimes meet with species, the generic cha- 

 racters of which are so equivocal, that we are not a little confounded 

 in our endeavours to class them. Hence the necessity of studying 

 living nature in order to determine in a case ivnolving doubt or uncer- 

 tainty. The bird before us from its general appearance would be 



