AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 151 



The Ruffed Grouse likes the wildest, thickest woods, 

 preferably those which have never been disturbed by 

 man. He may still be found in some places in Vir- 

 ginia, rarely at Falls Church. 



W ild Turkey: Meleagris gallopavo. 



The Wild Turkey resembles the domestic fowl, but 

 is more brilliant in color and his tail and its coverts are 

 tipped with chestnut-red instead of white. 



The nest is on the ground, generally under a bush. 



Resident (rare) all the year. 



American "Woodcock: Philohela minor. 



Length 11 inches. 



Upper parts mixed black, brown, tawny, and gray. 



Under parts reddish brown of different shades; a white 

 patch on the throat. 



Very long bill, and short, round tail. 



Resident (rather common) from February to November; 

 a few winter. 



Woodcock will be found in damp woods or thickets 

 near the Potomac or Anacostia swamps. They keep 

 secluded during the day and go out towards evening 

 to bore for worms. If, in the late afternoon, you 

 come across a group of small round holes freshly bored 

 in the mud you may know that Woodcock are near. 

 They are exceedingly shy birds and only by keeping 

 yourself unseen and unheard may you perhaps "' catch 

 the beam of that dark liquid eye that has no equal on 

 earth," or witness the famous aerial dance. 



The nest is on the ground, generally in the woods, 

 but sometimes in a corn-field. Four buffy, speckled 

 eggs are laid in a depression in the earth, with only a 

 few leaves under them. When the bird is sitting she 

 looks so like dead leaves herself that it is hard to see 

 her. 



