EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 37 



Nests, composed of grass, moss, or other similar material, and 

 are placed in dry situations except when otherwise stated, 



227. European Woodcock, Scolopax rusticolor. Eggs, 3 

 or 4, oval, pale yellowish white, blotched and spotted with ashy 

 yellow and yellowish brown or reddish; 1.75 -\- 1.33 to 1.35 -j- 

 1.80. Extralimital ; breeds in the northern portions of the 

 Old World, but the birds have been taken in Eastern North 

 America. 



228. American Woodcock. Eggs, 3 or 4, rather oval or short 

 pyriform, varying from creamy to buff, spotted and blotched 

 irregularly, but quite thickly and coarsely, with pale reddish 

 brown of varying shades ; 1.10 -j- 1-65 to 1.20 -|- 1.70. Known 

 from all American eggs by the pale colors and oval or short 

 pyriform shape. Breeds in the eastern provinces of North 

 America, westward, to Dakota and Kansas ; from the British 

 Provinces, southward, to the Gulf of Mexico and Northern 

 Florida ; in the latter named sectiwn, in February ; farther 

 north, in April. 



229. European Snipe, Gallinago gallinago. Eggs, 2 to 4, 

 pyriform, varying from pale greenish brown to yellowish ash, 

 spotted and blotched irregularly and rather faintly with rounded 

 marks of pale reddish brown, the greater portion of the mark- 

 ings being on the larger end; 1.05 -f- 1-^0 to 1.10 -j- 1.60. 

 Extralimital ; occurs in the northern parts of the Old World ; 

 the bird is frequently found in Greenland, and is accidental in 

 the Bermudas. 



230. Wilson's Snipe, Galinago delicata. Eggs, 3 or 4, in- 

 distinguishable from those of No. 229; in both species the 

 eggs are occasionally marked with lines and scrawls. Known by 

 the decidedly greenish color. Nests placed in marshes. Breeds 

 from Northern United States, northward, in June. 



231. Dowitcher, Ifacrorcwiphus griseus. Eggs, 2 to 4, 

 pyriform, varying from pale greenish brown to yellowish ash, 

 spotted and blotched irregularly, and usually faintly, with light 

 reddish brown and umber; 1.10 -{-1.55 to 1.15-)- 1.75. Known 



