110 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



The full complement of eggs is four ; they have a ground-color 

 varying from yellowish- white to greenish-yellow. The markings are 

 of several shades of reddish or chestnut-brown, scattered chiefly about 

 the larger end. The eggs are pyriform in shape and quite pointed at 

 the smaller end. Four eggs collected near Lancaster, England, measure 

 1.54x1.14, 1.53x1.08, 1.59x1.15, 1.51x1.10. 



230. Gallinago delicata (ORD.) [5260.] 



Wilson's Snipe. 



Hab. Whole of North and Middle America, breeding from Northern United States northward; south 

 in winter to West Indies and Northern South America. 



The American Snipe is a favorite game bird, well known by the 

 name of Jack Snipe. Throughout the greater part of the United 

 States it occurs only during the migrations. Breeds from about lati- 

 tude 45 northward to Hudson Bay region on the east and as far west 

 and north as Sitka, Alaska and Fort Anderson. 



The birds frequent low open places, such as wet meadows and 

 marshes, and muddy banks of streams. 



They are found in small companies of from three to twelve, tech- 

 nically called " wisps." Solitary birds are not unfrequently met with. 



No other game birds are more erratic and eccentric than these. 

 They are extremely fickle in the choice of their feeding ground ; one 

 day they may swarm in a certain locality, and the next none are to be 

 discovered. Their flight is strong, but, especially at the beginning, 

 erratic. They almost invariably fly against the wind, and lie closest 

 on still, clear days. Occasionally they alight on trees or fences. Their 

 note, uttered as they rise, resembles the word "escape" 



The nest is only a slight depression in the grass or moss of a bog. 

 The eggs vary from a grayish-olive to greenish-brown and yellowish- 

 ash, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown, umber, and sometimes 

 with lines of black ; the markings are bold and numerous, particularly 

 on the larger end, usually also sharp scratchy lines of blackish and 

 shell-spots, hardly noticeable. The shape of the eggs is pyriform ; 

 three or four in number; sizes range from 1.50 to 1.60 long by 1.05 to 

 1. 10 broad. 



231. Macrorhamphus griseus (GMEL.) [527.] 



Dowitcher. 



Hab. Eastern North America. Breeding far northward. 



Known by several names, such as Red-breasted Snipe, Gray 

 Snipe, Brown-back, and Gray-back ; these are also applied to the 

 Long-billed Dowitcher. This bird, which greatly resembles the Com- 

 mon Snipe in structure and general appearance, differs from it in 

 habits. It is described as migrating in flocks, often of large size, and 



