THE SNIPE. 



325 



and soon after the ^e\v England or Eastern States. Acording to 

 nl'-^ir usual habits, 

 ^hey keep secluded 

 in the woods and 

 thickets, till the ap- 

 proach of evening, 

 when they sally forth 

 to seek out springs, 

 paths, and broken 

 soil, in quest of 

 worms and other in- 

 sects, on which they 

 feed. They now 

 disperse themselves 

 over the country to 

 breed, and imlicate 

 their presence in all 

 directions by the 

 marks of their bor- 

 ing bills, which are 

 seen in such soft and 

 boguy places as are usually sheltered by thickets and woods. 



When flushed or surprised in their hiding places, they only rise in 

 a hurried manner to the tops of the bushes, or glide through the 

 under growth to a short distance, when they instantly drop down 

 again, and run out for some space on touching the ground, lurking 

 as soon as they imagine themselves in a safe retreat. At times, in 

 open woods, they fly out straight with considerable vigor and swift- 

 ness, but the effort, from 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 four, rather 

 large, of a dark yellowish- white approaching olive, speckled and con- 

 fluently blotched with three slightly different shades of dark yellow- 

 ish-brown spots, most numerous at the greater end. 



LESSEE WOODCOCK. 



THE SXIPE. 



With the bill long, straight, slender and compressed, soft and 

 flexible. Wings moderate, the first and second primaries nearly 

 of equal length, and longest in the wing. Tail short and rounded, 

 of from twelve to sixteen or more feathers. The head large, com- 

 pressed, low in front and high behind ; the eyes large, placed high 

 and far back in the head, so as to give a stupid appearance to the bird, 

 for which it is indeed characteristic. The tongue long, filiform and 



