60 THE GAME BIRDS 
bird, which, however, is easily recognizable - 
on the long bill, short legs, stub tail, and 
the position of the eyes, which are set high 
up in the head, and far back ; eyes black ; pill 
and legs flesh-colored. Average weight about 
6} oz., but have been taken weighing 9 oz. 
The habitat is Eastern North America, north 
to Nova Scotia, which is now the finest place 
for this bird within reach of Eastern sports- 
men. When I was there in the fall of 1889, 
big bags were reported during the last of 
September, and while at Kentville, in the 
centre of the Province, one man brought in 
28 birds taken by himself, and this did not 
appear to be considered out of the usual 
course of things. The sportsmen of the 
Southwest have apparently a bountiful field 
in the low river bottoms which intersect that 
country. Many characterize this bird as the 
a King of Game Birds,” and he is entitled to 
surely a princely rank, if not the head. 
There is a bird which has been taken in 
this country, one-third larger, but with about 
the same coloration and markings. ‘This is 
the European Woodcock, and is so very rare 
that a bird weighing over 9 oz. should be pre- 
served by its fortunate captor, at least until it 
has been examined by ornithologists. I have 
a record of a woodcock we eighing 12 oz., shot 
in Maine by a Dr. Gardner, “put I have been 
unable to get more details. If not the Eu- 
ropean variety, I think it heads the list for 
weight. 
