198 



WADING BIRDS. 



betweeen them ; these concentrate at the trap, so that in 

 this funnel-shaped fence, the bird, in feeding, is made to 

 pass through the narrow passage, and is almost to a cer- 

 tainty caught by the legs. 



As the season advances, and food begins to fail, by reason 

 of inclement and cold weather, the Woodcocks leave the 

 interior; and approaching the shelter of the sea coast and 

 the neighboring marshes, they now become abundant, and 

 are, at such times, late in autumn, killed in great numbers. 

 These are also their assembling points previous to their 

 southern migrations, which are performed in a desultory and 

 irregular manner, their motions, as usual, being mostly noc- 

 turnal, or in the twilight ; and though many are now met 

 with in the same low meadows and marshes, they are brought 

 together by common necessity, and never move in concerted 

 flocks. At this season, their movements are not betrayed 

 by any note or call ; the vocal powers of the species are only 

 called into existence at the period of propagation ; at other 

 times they move and start to wing in silence. The young run 

 or wander off as soon as they are hatched, are at this period 

 covered with a brownish-white down, and, on being- taken, 

 utter a slender bleat, or clear and long drawn ^eep. 



The American Woodcock, though distinguished by the epithet of 

 minor, is at the same time but little inferior to the European species, 

 the female being about 13^ inches from the tip of the tail to the point 

 of the bill ; and the male 12 inches measured in the same way. 

 The transatlantic bird is said to measure 15 inches (female ?) Wil- 

 son, however, gives to the male only 10^ inches, and 12 to the fe- 

 male. Pennant gives 11^ inches to the species without any dis- 

 crimination of sex. To reconcile these differences, is, I confess, not 

 in my power, but such is the fact, as I have stated, drawn from the 

 specimens noic before me. The bill of my longer specimen is 

 2| inches in a state of desiccation. Line over the eye, and the 

 whole under plumage reddish-tawny, paler on the breast and belly, 

 and brightest on the sides beneath the wings. Chin white. Fore- 

 head, sides of the neck nearly to the middle of the throat strongly 



