93 



bulk of the wonderful flocks of Shore Birds that once thronged our shores. 

 Breeding mostly far beyond the confines of cultivation the occupation of 

 their nesting grounds by settlers has had only the slighest influence upon 

 their numbers. The great reduction must be blamed upon indiscriminate 

 shooting. As they fly in dense flocks they offer an easy target and eighty 

 or more have been known to fall at one discharge of the gun, so that there is 

 little wonder that they are now comparatively scarce. 



Economic Status. Either perfectly harmless or actively useful accord- 

 ing to habitat. 



228. American Woodcock, fr. — la becasse d'amerique. becassine. Philo- 

 hela minor. L, 11. Plate VII B. 



Distinctions. Long bill (Figure 21, p. 21) and eyes situated high in the head, dead- 

 leaf colours of underparts, and rich browns of back are distinctive. 



Field Marks. The bird's habitat, combined with long bill, size, and coloration in 

 rich brown and dead-leaf tints render it easily recognizable in life. 



Nesting. On ground amidst last year's dead leaves, with which its plumage harmoni- 

 zes so weU. 



Distribution. Regularly in southern Ontario in the lower Great Lakes region, though 

 occasional individuals straggle over a much wider range. 



Woodcocks haunt moist or wet shrubbery, alder or hazel thickets, or 

 the tangled edges of damp woods. They spring suddenly from the ground 

 on being disturbed, rise erratically on peculiarly whistling wings, and 

 passing just over the tops of the underbrush drop suddenly into concealment 

 again a few rods beyond. It is well within the memory of the present 

 generation that the thickets of southern Ontario swarmed with Woodcock; 

 but now, owing to unrestrained shooting, the drainage and clearing of 

 waste lands, and perhaps the depredations of the domestic cat, the 

 Woodcock is a scarce, almost a rare bird. Unlike the Ruffed Grouse or 

 Partridge, which requires considerable and virgin ranges, there is no 

 fundamental reason why the Woodcock should not remain plentiful 

 and give abundance of sport for years to come. Almost any small 

 retired covert of damp shrubbery will suffice for its needs. The 

 Woodcock leaves for the south very shortly after the open season begins 

 and is not long subject to legitimate shooting. Next to man the cat 

 seems to be its principal enemy and as the Woodcock lives and nests on the 

 ground trusting to protective coloration and hiding to avoid danger, it is 

 peculiarly open to feline attack. 



230. Wilson's Snipe, jack snipe, snipe, fr. — la becassine de wilson. Gallin- 

 ago delicata. L, 11-25. Plate VIII A. 



Distinctions. Unlikely to be mistaken for any other species in Canada, but the reddish- 

 brown tail, whitening on the outer feathers, and barred with black, will distinguish it if 

 necessary. 



Field Marks. Habitat (open grassy meadows), long bill, peculiar cork-screw flight 

 as it rises, combined with size, general coloration, and reddish-brown and whitish tail. 

 The Woodcock and the Dowitcher, are the only other siniilar birds. 



Distribution. Breeds across the continent, coming just within the bounds of culti- 

 vation and irregularly to our southern borders. Common throughout the Dominion. 



231. Dowitcher. red-breasted snipe, robin snipe, fr.- — la becassine rousse. 

 M acrorhamphus griseus. L, 10-50. Spring adult — throat, foreneck, breast, and all under- 

 parts strongly reddish. Back and upperparts variegated with shades of same and dark 

 brown. Autumn plumage dull greyish-brown on head, neck, upper breast, flanks, and back, 

 variegated with browner on the latter ; white below. Lower back always white. Interme- 

 diates of all above plumages occur. 



57172— 7i 



