174 



USEFLT. r.IRDS 



been found in its crop; army worms, cut worms and wire worms 

 form a jntrtion of its diet. It appears to be growing more abtmd- 

 ant in the State from year to year, and working farther north each 

 season, yet its occurrence in any latitude in anv vear naturally 

 depends tipon the se\erity of the i)receding winter and U])(in gen- 

 eral climatic conditions. 



The X'irginia (Juail or llol) White is holding its own fairly 

 well in Minnesota in spite of our severe winters, ])tishing its way 

 farther north wdien conditions are favorable. This bird is such a 

 good friend of the agriculturist that it deserves protection, although 

 its fine qualities as a table bird make it an object of pursuit on 

 the part of hunters. Potato bugs and e\'en chinch bugs have been 

 found in its crop and grasshoppers as well as many other varieties 

 of injurious insects compose a large i)r()portion of its bill of fare. 



THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



A somewhat rare bird in .Minnesota, freqttenting the low, 

 wooded, water-courses and generally resorting to the higher lands 

 onl\- during the night. This l)eautiful game bird is ])re-eminently 

 a night-tiier and a night-feeder. Its large eyes, placed well toward 

 the top of its head, are not onlv enabled to gain impressions from 

 above, when the ])ird's soft l)e;ik is ])uried in the mud, l)Ut also 

 are in a position to receive all available light. \\ hen flushed, the 

 bird rises softly, directly ttpward until clear of the lirush and then 

 pauses an instant before starting awa\- from the intruder. Their 

 four buff-colored eggs spotted and blotched w'ith l^rown, are laid 

 on leaves on the ground in an excuse for a nest. This bird has no 

 economic bearing upon agriculture. It is protected in Minnesota 

 until I'ns. 



