322 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Tl)C WoodCOC}^. Philohela minor Gmelin. 



The classification of this interesting and peculiar bird is as follows : 



Order Limicolce — The Shore Birds. 



Characters: Precocial wading birds, usually of small size; distinguished from the 

 Herodioncs (herons, etc.) by precocial habits and many striking differences of structure, 

 and from the PaliidicolcE (cranes, rails, etc.) by their lengthened, usually pointed, 

 wings and small rudimentary hind toe, the latter member being sometimes wanting. 



Family Scolopacidm — SxiPES AND SANDPIPERS. Tarsus rounded in front, where 

 clothed with a single row of transverse scutellae. Bill exceedingly variable, short or 

 long, straight, slightly recurved or decidedly decurved, but more or less expanded 

 laterally at the end, which is more or less sensitive. Hind toe usually present ; rarely 

 absent. 



Subfamily ScolopaciucB. 



Characters : Bill straight, longer than the middle toe and tarsus ; back of tarsus 

 with a continuous row of transverse scutellse. Ears situated directly underneath the 

 eyes; tip of upper mandible thickened, with cutting edges brought near together; 

 plumage the same at all stages and seasons. 



Genus Pliilolula Gray. PJiilohcla Gray, List Genera, 1841, 90. Type, Scolopax 

 minor Gmelin. 



Generic characters : Body very full, and head, bill, and eyes very large. Tibia 

 short, feathered to joint. Toes cleft to base. Wings short, rounded, the three outer 

 primaries very narrow and much attenuated ; the fourth and fifth equal to the longest. 

 Tarsi stout, shorter than the middle toe. Hind claw very short, conical, not extending 

 beyond the toe. Tail of twelve feathers. The present genus, embracing a single 

 species, the American Woodcock, is much like Scolopax, with the European Woodcock 

 as a type, in color and external appearance. The most striking difference is seen in 

 the wings, which are short, rounded; the fourth and fifth primaries longest, and the 

 outer three abruptly attenuated; while in Scolopax the wings are long, the first primary 

 longest, and none attenuated. 



Philohela minor Gmelin. American woodcock. 



Popular synonyms: Bog-sucker; mud snipe; blind snipe. 



Scolopax minor Gmelin. S. N., i, 1788,661. Wils. Am. Orn. vi, 1812,40, pi. 

 48, fig. 2. Aud. Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 474, pi. 268. 



Specific characters : Bill long, compressed, punctulated near the end ; upper 

 mandible longer than the under and fitted to it at the tip ; wings moderate, three 

 outer quills very narrow; tail short; legs moderate; eyes inserted at an unusual 

 distance from the bill. 



