170 lewis's AMERICAN S P II T S M A X. 



They breed and rear their young throughout the Middle and 

 Northern States, and at the approach of winter move oflF to the Far 

 Soutli, in quest of the rich and loamy soil of those temperate 

 climes. Notwithstanding the greater mass of these birds migrate 

 south, there is but little doubt that numbers of them remain in 

 Pennsylvania, Jersey, and Delaware, during the whole winter 

 through, as it is no unusual circumstance to shoot an occasional 

 cock at all periods of the cold Aveather in these States. Early in 

 the spring, woodcocks abandon their winter-quarters in the South, 

 and betake themselves to the Northern States for the purpose of 

 incubation; some few, however, it is not unlikely, remain in the 

 higher elevations and marshy solitudes of the South the whole 

 summer through, and there accomplish those promptings of nature 

 which impel so many of their brethren to seek the cool alder-swamps 

 of the Far North. 



FORMATION OF THE HEAD. 



The formation of the head is somewhat remarkable, and is a 

 striking peculiarity of the woodcock. It is large and triangular. 

 The large, prominent black eyes, set far back in the temples, a 

 considerable distance from the bill, give it rather a strange but 

 bold and expressive appearance ; and there are few pictures more 

 pleasing to the eye of a sportsman than the sight of a startled 

 woodcock just on the point of springing, or rather when in the 

 attitude of fear, arising from the stealthy approach of the shooter. 

 Notwithstanding woodcocks possess such beautiful large eyes, their 

 vision in full day is very incomplete ; in fact, they are incapable 

 of supporting a glaring light, and consequently see much better 

 in the twilight than at any other time.* 



Woodcocks are essentially night-birds, and remain concealed, 

 during a greater portion of the day, in secluded thickets, or hid 



* M. T. W. Chandler, Esq., informs us that he knew of two instances in which 

 woodcocks flew in bright day against a brick dwelling and were killed. 



These two facts are of themselves sufficient to prove the imperfect vision of this 

 bird in the daytime, or they certainly would not have made such a mistake in their 

 course. 



