NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 109 



her; of a pale yellowish- white, blotched and spotted with various 

 shades, ashy-gray and reddish or yellowish-brown; most numerous 

 about the larger end. Four eggs measure 1.75 x 1.27, 1.74 x 1.27, 1.73 

 x 1.23, 1.77 x 1.28. 



228. Philohela minor (GMEL.) [525.] 



American 'Woodcock. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North America, north to British Province, west to Dakota, Nebraska, 

 Kansas, etc. Breeds throughout its range. 



This noted game bird frequents the bogs, swampy fields, and wet 

 woodlands of Eastern United States and Canada, and breeds through- 

 out its range. The nests are mere depressions in some dry spot in 

 swampy land, generally under the cover of a clump of briers or other 

 wild shrubbery, often in more open places. The eggs of the Wood- 

 cock are laid early in April, and in some localities not until some time 

 in May. In Ohio, I have found eggs as early as April 3, and young 

 have been seen as early as April 9, near Cleveland, Ohio. There are 

 records of eggs of this species averaging in size 1.80x1.25, but I have 

 never seen any so large, although they exhibit considerable variations. 

 These sizes doubtless refer to the eggs of the European species. The 

 Woodcock is often called " Bog Sucker," from its habit of boring in the 

 mud for worms and animalculae, of which its food consists. The eggs 

 are creamy or buff, irregularly and thickly spotted with pale, reddish- 

 brown of varying shades; pyriform, but more rotund than those of 

 most of the small waders, and some are quite broad, varying from 1.40 

 to 1.55 long by 1.15 to 1.20 broad. The usual number of eggs is four. 

 Four selected specimens measure 1.58x1.21, 1.53x1.14, 1.57x1.17, 

 and i-53x 1.20. 



[229.] Gallinago gallinago (LINN.) [526.] 



European Snipe. 



Hab. Northern portions of the Old World; frequent occurrence in Greenland. Accidental in the 

 Bermudas. 



A species of general distribution over Europe. In the breeding 

 season it is found in the more northern portions and in the winter 

 months it inhabits the southern regions. A common game bird on the 

 British Islands, breeding in greater or less abundance in all parts of 

 England and Scotland; especially to the north on the Orkney and 

 Shetland Islands. In summer it is found on the Faroes, Iceland, 

 and in Greenland. Breeds in the northern portions of Russia and 

 Siberia and as far south as France, Germany, Holland and Hungary. 

 The nests of this Snipe are placed on the ground in tall grass by the 

 side of some pond or shallow water, or amidst the long heather which 

 grows upon the hill-side. Nests have been found at an elevation oi 

 a thousand feet above the plain. 



