196 WADING BIRDS. 



the shortness of the wing, is always attended with much 

 muscular exertion. 



Early in April, the Woodcocks in pairs select a spot for 

 breeding, which is generally in or near some retired part of 

 the same woods which usually affords them their food and 

 shelter. The nest is placed on the ground, in a tuft of 

 grass, or in the protection of some old stump. It is formed 

 with little art, of such withered leaves and old grass as the 

 convenience of the place affords ; the eggs are 4, rather 

 large, of a dark yellowish-white approaching olive, specked 

 and confluently blotched with three slightly different shades 

 of dark yellowish-brown spots, most numerous at the greater 

 end. Ed-o-s have been found, even in Massachusetts, in 

 sheltered woods, as early as the month of February ; but 

 the usual time, according to the age and general appearance 

 of the young, is not before the commencement of April. 

 At this time, in the morning, as well as evening, but more 

 particularly the latter, the male, in the vicinity of his mate 

 and nest, rises successively in a spiral course, like a Lark. 

 While ascending he utters a hurried and feeble warble ; but 

 in descending the tones increase as he approaches lowards 

 the ground, and then, becoming loud and sweet, passes into 

 an agreeable, quick, and tumultuous song. As soon as the 

 performer descends, the sound ceases for a moment, when 

 with a sort of stifled utterance, accompanied by a stiff and 

 balancing motion of the body, the word blaik, and some- 

 times palp palp is uttered. This uncouth and guttural 

 bleating seems a singular contrast to the delightful sere- 

 nade, of which this is uniformly the close. I heard this 

 piping and bleating in the marshes of West Cambridge, on 

 the 15th of April, and they had arrived about the first week 

 in that month. This nocturnal music continued at regular 

 intervals, and in succession, until near 9 o'clock in the 

 evening, and is prolonged for a number of days during the 



