THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. “495 
TWICE only have I seen flocks of these tardy migrants resting on the 
Lake Erie shore or feeding on moist plowed lands adjacent to it. On May 
22nd, 1897, several squads, aggregating twenty-five birds, were seen on the 
pebbly beach west of Lorain. ‘They appeared fatigued after their long jour- 
ney, but were quite wary and could be approached only by stealth. For 
the most part they kept back from the water’s edge upon the dry sand, but 
one waded boldly into the water and allowed the low waves to buffet him 
repeatedly. On June 4th, 1903, in company with Rev. W. F. Henninger, 
of Tiffin, I was surprised and delighted, in view of the late date, to see a 
flock of sixteen of these waders feeding industriously on a large piece of 
1eclaimed swamp land near Port Clinton. By cautious approach under cover 
cf a dyke, we were able to see that both sexes were about equally repre- 
sented in the flock, and noticed the patchy pattern of white, black and 
iitense rufous, as it was thrown into relief by the black, mucky soil. The 
birds were silent and intent only upon feeding. This they did by advancing 
slowly over the plowed ground and gleaning from its surface, and by turning 
over the clods which lay in their path to search eagerly beneath. It was 
rather amusing to see a bird walk up to a clod bigger than itself and several 
times as heavy, insert its beak and give an odd little bunt and upward jerk, 
which would send the clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump, more 
firmly imbedded, offered resistance, in which case the bird would make 
another honest effort, or pass on unconcerned. In flight the ‘Turnstones 
bunch closely at first, but afterward scatter a little more widely, and wheel 
and turn after the manner of the Killdeers in autumn. The chief impres- 
sion was of flashing white as they quartered before the sun or as they settled 
again in some distant portion of the field with wings daintily uplifted. 
These handsome waders are somewhat irregular in their migrating 
movements, and it is said that the duties of incubation are attended to in 
the far north, and the return journey commenced within the short space of 
two months. 
No. 225. 
AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 
A. O. U. No. 228.. Philohela minor (Gmel.). 
Description.—Adult: Below ochraceous-buff, vinaceous-rufous or even 
cinnamon-rufous, especially on sides, unmarked; above pale grayish brown, heavily 
blotched with black, and with much edging and mottling of the shade of the under 
parts; the chin whitish vinaceous, and the anterior portion of the head in general, 
with a somewhat bleached appearance; a narrow, black bar from bill to eye, and 
another paralleling it about half an inch further back; hind head and nape black, 
