184 



PK.ECOCIAL GRALLATOEES — LIMICOL^. 



quills very narrow ; tail short ; legs moderate ; eyes inserted unusually distant from the bill. Adult : 

 Occiput with three transverse bands of black, alternating with three much narrower ones of pale 

 yellowish rufous ; upper parts of l)ody variejjated with pale ashy, rufous, or yellowish red of -wirious 

 shades, and black ; large t^pace on front and throat reddish ashy ; line i'rom the eye to the bill, and 



another on the neck below the eye, brownish black ; entire under parts pale grayish rufous, 

 brighter on the sides and under wing-coverts. Quills ashy brown ; tail feathers brownish black, 

 tipped with asliy, darker on the upper surface, paler and frequently white on the under ; bill light 

 brown, paler and yellowish at base ; legs pale reddish. 



Downy young : (ieneral color light reddish bulf or isabella-color, uniform on the lower surface. 

 Line from bill to eye, a large, somewhat elliptical patch covering forehead and fore part of the 

 crown, a pateli on the occiput (connected with that on the crown by a narrow isthmus), and a 

 narrow mark behind the eye with an oblique one below it, very dark chestnut ; broad stripe down 

 the rump, also dark chestnut ; stripe down the nape, and various large l)lotches on the back, wings, 

 etc., rather light .snuff-1)rown. 



Total length about 11 inches; wing, 4.80-5.70; tail, 2.25; bill, 2.50 to nearly 3.00 ; tarsus, 

 1.25 ; middle toe. 1 .'M. 



Tlie Anierieaii AVoodcock — one of the best known and most popular of our game- 

 birds — is found throughout the eastern portion of the continent, from Florida to the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence on the northeast, and from the Atlantic to Nebraska. It is, 

 however, rare west of the Mississi})})i. It is abundant at Hamilton, and probably 

 occurs throughout Canada, New BrunsAvick, and Nova Scotia. Mr. Boardman in- 

 forms us tliat it is very common in the vicinity of Calais, where it breeds abund- 

 antly, and that it has been known to nest as far north as the river and the banks of 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It breeds in these places in April, even Avhen the ground 

 is still covered with snow. A single specimen has been taken in Bermuda. 



On Long Island, according to Giraud, the Woodcock arrives early in March, and 

 begins to build its nest, about the beginning of April, of withered leaves and dry 

 grasses in a very inartistic manner. The eggs are usually four, occasionally five, 

 in number. It is, however, probable that the Woodcock, in favorable seasons, arrives 

 and breeds somewhat earlier on Long Island, as this bird occasionally occurs in Massa- 

 chusetts in February, and breeds in March. It remains in sheltered localities until 

 quite late in the autumn ; and, near Jamaica, L. I., in wet and springy places, a few 

 have been seen in the months of December and January. 



In its habits the Woodcock is nocturnal. It never flies voluntarily by day, but 

 only when forced from its retreats, usually keeping in close and sheltered thickets, and 

 resorting at twilight to its favorite feeding-places. It feeds almost exclusively dur- 

 ing the night, as its sight is very imperfect by day. Its eye is remarkably large and 

 handsome, but unlit to bear the glare of the sun, its full and almost amaurotic appear- 



