SCOLOPACID.E— THE SNIPE FAMILY. 35 



Rusticola (Microptera) minor Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 134. 



Fhilohela minor Gkat, Genera B. 1841, 90— Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1868, 709.— 

 Baied, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 522 — Coues, Key, 1872, 251, fig. 162; Check List 1874, 

 No. 412; 2d ed. 1882, No. 605: Birds N. W. 1874, 472.— Kidgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, 

 No. 525; Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 150— B. B. & B. Water B. N. Am. i, 1884, 183— A. O- 

 U. Check List, 1886, No. 228. 

 Microptera americana Aud. Synop. 1839, 250; B. Am. vi, 1843, 15, pi. 352. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North America, north to the British Provinces and west to 

 Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas; breeding throughout its known range; no extra-limital 

 record, except the Bermudas. 



Sp. Chae. Bill long, compressed, punctulated near the end; upper mandible longer 

 than the under, and fitted to it at the tip; wings moderate, three outer quills very narrow; 

 tail short; legs moderate; eyes inserted at an unusual distance from the bill. Adult: Occiput 

 with three transverse bands of black, alternating with three much narrower ones of pale 

 yellowish rufous; upper parts of body variegated with pale ashy, rufous, or yellowish red 

 of various shades, and black; large space on front and throat reddish ashy; line from the 

 eye to the bill, and another on the neck below the eye, brownish black; entire under parts 

 pale grayish rufous, brighter on the sides and under wing-coverts. Quills ashy-brown; tail 

 feathers brownish black, tipped with ashy, darker on the upper surface, paler and frequent- 

 ly white on the under; bill light brown, paler and yellowish at base; legs pale brownish. 

 Downy young: General color light reddish buff or isabella- color, uniform on the lower 

 surface. Line from bill to eye, a large, somewhat ehiptical patch covering forehead and 

 fore part of the crown, a patch on the occiput (connected with that on the crown by a nar- 

 row isthmus), and a narrow mark behind the eye, with an oblique one below it, very dark 

 chestnut; broad stripe down the rump, also dark chestnut; stripe down the nape, and vari- 

 ous large blotches on the back, wings, etc., rather light snuff-brown. 



Total length about 11 inches; wing, 4.80-5.70; tail, 2.25; bill, 2.50 to nearly 3.00; tarsus, 1.25; 

 middle toe, 1.37. 



The American Woodcock is found throughout the State, in 

 suitable localities, and though known chiefly as a summer res- 

 ident remains throughout the year in well-sheltered places es- 

 pecially in the more southern districts. 



'In its habits the Woodcock is nocturnal. It never flies vol- 

 untarily by day only when forced from its retreats, usually 

 keeping in close and sheltered thickets, and resorting at twilight 

 to its favorite feeding-places. It feeds almost exclusively dur- 

 ing the night, as its sight is very imperfect by day. Its eye 

 is remarkably large and handsome, but unfit to bear the glare 

 of the sun, its full and almost amaurotic appearance plainly 

 suggest mg the crepuscular habits of the bird. During tin 1 greater 

 portion of the day tin' Woodcock remains closely concealed in 

 marshy thickets or in rank grass, hut in the early morning 

 or evening, and also on moonlight nights it seeks ils food ID 

 open places, bul during i he day-time in dark and druse covert. 



"The favorite places of resort of this Bpecies are low marshy 

 grounds, sw;iii)|)s, ,ind meadows with soft bottoms. During 

 very wet seasons it seeks higher land— generally corn-fields 



