THE WOODCOCK. 221 



The Snipe is familiar only as a transient visitor 

 during Spring and Autumn, its summer haunts being 

 among the cold countries of the north, where it 

 raises its brood and returns to pass the Winter in the 

 south. 



The Woodcock is a summer resident in the North- 

 ern, Eastern, and Middle States, where it is a very 

 abundant species, frequenting the low grounds and 

 swampy woods of almost every neighborhood. This 

 fact would perhaps be disputed by some in conse- 

 quence of their not being aware that the habits of 

 the bird are nocturnal, and would not therefore meet 

 the eye of most, unless accidentally disturbed. The 

 early twilight is the signal for the Woodcocks to re 

 tire to their cover, and the approach of dusk to sally 

 forth in quest of food ; this consists of earth-worms, 

 which they obtain by probing the soft mire with their 

 bills, through which they appear to suck them up 

 without withdrawing their bills from the mud, in the 

 manner of the Curlews and some other water birds. 

 They will sometimes resort to the woodland and 

 scratch among the dry leaves for the worms which 

 are often secreted there ; but this probably is only 

 during hot weather, when the marshy places are 

 partly dry, and the supply of food less abundant. 



Neither in respect to form nor general appearance 

 can the Woodcock lay claim to beauty or grace. The 

 markings of its plumage are indeed very delicate, 

 but the contrasts of color are less pleasing than in 

 many of its associates. The head, which is rather a 

 shapeless affair, has the appearance of being a con- 

 19* 



