1 66 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



Others, that this bird is " occasionally seen along the sandy beaches. Of this 

 fact I am assured by gunners and others, who have noticed it on account of its 

 peculiarities, and ironically named it ' Humility.' " This latter name is applied 

 to the Willet by old gunners at Ipswich and elsewhere, and as Maynard ^ himself 

 states, was so used at the time of his writing. As Mr. Maynard himself had not 

 seen the bird, this evidence of its occurrence might, I think, be dropped. 



95 [228] Philohela minor (Gmel.). 

 American Woodcock. 



Not uncommon summer resident, more common in the migrations ; March 

 4 to November i (December 11). 



Eggs : May. 



The Woodcock is much persecuted and is diminishing in numbers. The 

 young birds are "located " by gunners early in July and shot as soon as the law 

 is off. A Woodcock was picked up emaciated but alive, in Lynn, on December 

 nth, 1902, by Mr. George Woodman.^ 



A Woodcock was killed by striking one of Thatcher's Island Lights on 

 April 14th, 1893, and another on March 2Sth, 1901. Another was killed against 

 Hospital Point Light, in the spring of 1888. 



96 [230] Gallinago delicata (Ord). 

 Wilson's Snipe; "English Snipe"; "Jack Snipe." 



Common transient visitor, very rare summer resident ; (winter) ; March 29 

 to May I ; (summer) ; September 1 1 to November 14 (December). 



Nuttall^ says: "My friend, Mr. Ives of Salem, also informs me, that a 

 few pairs of this species breed in that vicinity." This was in the early part of 

 the last century. I believe that they may still breed here occasionally, for Mr. 

 T. C. Wilson, tells me that in his experience of thirty years, he has occasionally 



' C. J. Maynard: The Naturalist's Guide, p. 141, 1S70. 

 2G. H. Mack ay : Auk, vol. 20, p. 210, 1903. 



■"Thomas Nuttall : A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada, vol. 2, p. 

 187, 1834. 



