444 THE WOODCOCK. 



Audubon reported this little Rail as abundant in the ex- 

 treme Southern States, but it is now regarded as rather rare 

 throughout its range. The above author gives its nest as 

 made in a tussock of grass, and its eggs as white. Dr. 

 Coues describes a set of the eggs in the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution as " rich, warm, buffy-brown, marked at the great 

 end with a cluster of reddish-chocolate dots and spots. 

 Size 1.15 X. 85 to 1.05X.B0." 



The rare eggs of the little Black Rail, which have been 

 found as far north as New Jersey, " are creamy-white, 

 sprinkled all over with fine dots of rich, bright, reddish- 

 brown, and with a few spots, of some little size, at the great 

 end. * * * Dimensions 1.05X.80." 



The head and under parts of this bird are grayish-black, 

 the upper parts black, speckled with white, the lower neck 

 and upper back being dark chestnut; feet, yellowish-green. 



The general habits of these two species would seem to be 

 like those of the rest of the family. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



As I traverse this marsh about Burnt-ship Creek, on these 

 hot, dry days of late August, I every now and then start up 

 a Woodcock. Rising a little above the tops of the grasses, 

 it appears but for a few seconds and then drops out of sight, 

 so that it requires a remarkably quick and good aim to 

 shoot it while describing its short and sudden curve, slow 

 as its flight appears. Probably no bird is so well known to 

 the sportsmen of Eastern North America as the Woodcock 

 {Fhilo/iela minor'). Its flesh is in great requisition for the 

 table, and, as it shelters itself closely, lies well to the dog, 

 and affords a tempting shot on the wing, its capture is a 

 most agreeable excitement. Its habit, too, of changing 

 place according to the weather makes the finding of it a 



