BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 117 



Le Sueur county, (sent to this city for mounting), and they get 

 into the Snipe market occasionally in the fall. The latest 

 date at which 1 have any record of seeing them is October 15th, 



(1874). 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Legs very long and slender; wings long; large space in front 

 of the head, spot behind the eye, and entire under parts, white, 

 frequently with a very pale reddish tinge; head above, neck 

 behind, back and wings, glossy black; rump and tail white, the 

 latter frequently tinged with ashy; bill black; legs red, 



Length, 14; wing, 8.50; tarsus, 4; tail, 3; commissure, 3. 



Habitat, Temperate North America. 



Note. The Black-necked Stilts are much more common in 

 Minnesota than I formerly supposed, breeding in general sec- 

 tions in which the Avocets breed as evidenced by their 

 presence during the entire season of nidification. After they 

 disperse to breed, they are seldom seen except by those speci- 

 ally devoted to the critical study of their specific habits, and 

 then very infrequently as they are much devoted to their 

 special duties, and as it is well known that the male assumes 

 equal responsibility in covering the eggs in the intervals of 

 the absence of the female, and as the young are cared for much 

 longer than many other species look after theirs, their vigi- 

 lance in maintaining great secrecy would add greatly to the 

 difficulties in finding their nests. I have never seen it, but the 

 eggs have been sent to me under circumstances under which I 

 could have no doubt of them, and corresponded to the descrip- 

 tions of the acknowledged authorities. 



Family SCOLOPACID^. 



PHILOHELA MINOR (Gmelin). (228.) 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



As early as the full tide of the Duck migration reaches us, 

 the Woodcock is here, and invariably in small parties of five or 

 six, rarely more. At this time it will be found in the low 

 brushlands bordering heavier growths on the southern side. 

 I have no record of its arrival earlier than the last week in 

 March, when it was obtained by Mr. J. C. Bailey near Whale 

 Tail lake, in the western part of Hennepin county, at a spot 

 long known to him as a favorite one for the Woodcocks. He 

 discovered it by having observed it about the same date in 

 former years, and being on the alert for its first arrival, 

 watched for it at twilight in the morning. Its habits are so 

 well known to sportsmen, that it would be time unprofitably 

 spent to refer to most of them here, but for the fact that all 



