34 Birds of Pennsylvania. 



without nsin^ their eyes,* which ai^^et at such a distance and eleva- 

 tion in the back part of the head as to give the bird a remarkable as- 

 pect of stupidity." 



*A11 young birds. 



+ Parent of above. 



Genus GALLINAGO. Leach. 

 230. Gallinag-o delicata (Ord.). 



Wilson's Snipe; Gray Snipe. 



(Pate. 9.) 



Dimensions. — Length, about 11 inches; extent, about 18 inches; wing, about 5 

 inches; tarsus, 1.25; tail, 2.25 inches. Female somewhat smaller than the male. 



Hab. — North and middle America, breeding from the northern United States 

 northward ; south in winter to the West Indies and northern South America. 



This bird, usually, though improperly, called " English Snipe,'' ar- 

 rives in Pennsylvania about the last week in March. After the first 

 of May, these birds are rarely seen a2;ain until the fall migrations, at 

 which time you seldom find them in small Hocks or '* wisps," but gen- 

 erally see them singly in the meadows, where but a few months be- 

 fore they were plentiful. The Gray Snipe is not found in the woods 

 or dense thickets, but at times when sojourning in this region is seen 

 about the marshes or meadows, and in the early spring he shows a 

 special preference for spring-heads, about which, at this time, the 

 tender blades of grasses grow in abundance. Audubon says : " I 

 never had the good fortune to meet with a nest in Pennsylvania, al- 

 though I have known several instances of a pair breeding not far from 

 Mill Grove, on the Perkioming.'' While I do not dispute the fact that 

 a few nests of this species have, at times, been taken in Pennsylvania, 

 I am quite certain that the Snipe does not commonly breed in this 



♦The eyes being' situated hijrh up and far back in both the Snipe and Woodcoclc (well shown 

 in plate No. 9) is a wise provision of nature, as these birds by this peculiaritj' escape many of 

 their enemies. It can easily be understood by this arrang'emfmt that the field of vision is frreatly 

 increased. Obtaininfi' their sustenance, as the.v do, chiefly by probing' with their loiif? bills, so 

 amply supplied with nerves, they have comparatively little use for their eyes when feuding, un- 

 less it is to keep a watch for their numerous foes. — Warren. 



