124 BiKDS OF XoRTH CaUOHXA 



12. \MiiK less than 4. Toes well wcbljeil at base. Both mandibles grooved to the tip. Tail 

 not baiTcd. Ereunctes. 



12. Wing not les.s than 4. Sec 13. 



13. Exposed culnien less than one-fifth as long as the wing, ^fachetes. 



13. Exposed culnien more than one-fifth as long as the wing. See 14. 



14. Bill slightly l)roadened at tip, its upper surfaee slightly WTinkled or pitted. Micropalama. 



14. Bill narrower at tip, its upper surface hard and smooth, not grooved to the tip. Tail 



barred. See 1.5. 



15. Wing less than 4 > 2- Tarsus about as long as middle toe and claw. AcUtis. 



15. Wing more than 4}2- Tarsas rather longer than middle toe and claw. See IG. 



16. Bill stout. Legs bluish. Catoplrophorus. 



16. Bill slender. Legs not blusih. See 17. 



17. Legs yellow. Tarsus more than one and one-half times middle toe without claw. ToIumis. 

 17. Legs du-sky. Tarsus much less tlian one and one-half times middle toe witliout claw. 



Helodromns. 



Genus Philohela (Gray) 

 102. Philohela minor {(imel.). Woodcock. 



Ads. — Front of crown slaty, wa.shed «ith buff, an indistinct blackish line in its center, and 

 another from eye to bill; back of head lilack, with two or tlu'ee bars of ocluaceous-buff; rest 

 of uppeiparts black, margined with slaty, and barred an<l mottled with rufous or ochraceous- 

 buff; tip of tail ashy gray above, silvery beneath; undi-rparts between ochraceous-bufT and 

 rufous; outer tlu-ee primaries very narrow and nuieli slilfeiied. L., 11.00; W., 5.40; Tar., 1.25; 

 B., 2.90. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding from northern Florida to southern Canada, and 

 wintering from southern New Jersey to southern Florida. 



Range in North Carolina. — Whole State at all seasons, in damp, shady woods and low- 

 grountl thickets. 



Fig. 85. Woodcock. 



No bird so stir.s the heart of the average sportsinan as the Woodeoek, and the 

 rumor of its appearance in any j)lace is sure to send one or more enthusiastic gun- 

 ners to explore the neighborhood. To find this shy bird one must penetrate the 

 woodland bogs and swamps, or occasionally standing corn near water. Rarely does 

 it venture on the open Hats so beloved by the Wilson's Snipe. When flusiied its 

 Hight is usually short and comparatively weak, but the thick cover in which it is 

 found often saves it from the hunter's aim. One may look for the Woodcock in 

 suitable ))laces throughout the State. 



George B. Sennett in The Auk for July, 1887, speaks of finding one near the 

 summit of Roan Mountain, and in the swamps of Tyrrell County. It is so abun- 

 dant some years that market-hunters find it profitable to pursue it. 



