156 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



perfect resemblance to the surroundings. When the bird was 

 picked up she acted much as a hen would do under similar 

 circumstances, pecking at my hand and endeavoring to escape, 

 but when released back she went to her four eggs. The nest 

 was composed of grass and lined with pine needles, and was 

 situated on a slight elevation at the foot of a small spruce sap- 

 ling in a swamp. The eggs were of an ashy gray color, spotted 

 and blotched principally toward the larger end with reddish 

 brown and rufous, and measure 1.62 x 1.18, 1.41 x 1.14, 1.59 

 X 1.14, 1.65x1.16. 



Chapman and Davie write of the eggs as being creamy or 

 buff in color but I have seen many eggs of this species and 

 never found any which would match either of these colors, but 

 the eggs I have seen were all Maine eggs which may make a 

 difference. Other Woodcock nests I have found by flushing 

 the birds from almost under foot, but never one where the par- 

 ent was so tame and acted like the one above described. Usu- 

 ally four eggs are laid, sometimes only three. 



The incubation period I am not able to exactly specify, but 

 judging from observation of nests already containing the com- 

 plement of eggs when found would feel assured that it was at 

 least eighteen days, though the age of the eggs found might 

 have been such as to increase the incubation time above the 

 eighteen days. 



The birds are practically nocturnal in habits, flying at the 

 approach of dusk to the marshes, swamps, muddy shores and 

 meadows where they bore for worms and other insects with 

 their long bills which seem to have very sensitive moveable 

 tips. These holes or borings are unmistakable evidence to the 

 initiated that a Woodcock has been feeding there. In the fall 

 they frequent second growth birch thickets where they are best 

 hunted by dogs. It is a sight worth seeing to see a good dog 

 on the point, while the Woodcock (rarely so seen on account 

 of protective coloration) crouches down, all braced to fly at the 

 least approach nearer of the dog or the human being, absolutely 



