PHILOHELA MINOR: THE WOODCOCK. 191 



FAMILY SCOLOPACID^E: SNIPE, ETC. 



THE WOODCOCK. 

 PHILOHELA MINOR (Gm.) Gr. 



Chars. Under parts russet, varying from pale reddish-buff to 

 ruddy brownish ; generally palest on the throat. Upper parts 

 intimately varied with russet, black, brown and silvery-gray ; 

 an irregular dark line from bill to eye. Head peculiarly shaped, 

 with large eyes in the back upper corner. Bill perfectly straight, 

 much longer than head, high ridged at base, amply furrowed, 

 very sensitive at the end, the knobbed tip of the upper mandi- 

 ble overhanging the end of the lower mandible ; gape of the 

 mouth much contracted. Legs short for a wader, feathered to the 

 heei ; toes long and slender ; tail short ; wings rounded, with 

 several outer primaries narrowed and falcate, bistoury-like. 

 Body plump ; neck short. Female larger and heavier than the 

 male. Length, about n.oo; extent, 18.00; wing, 5.00; tail, 

 2.50 ; bill, 2.50-3.00 ; tarsus, 1.15. 



The Woodcock is found in nearly all parts of the 

 United States east of the Mississippi, and in adjoining 

 British Provinces. Occurring thus both north and 

 south of New England, it is in that section of country 

 more numerous during the migrations than at other 

 seasons ; more numerous in summer than in winter ; 

 yet actually a permanent resident. There is no month 

 in the year in which Woodcock may not be found. 

 These are the final facts in the case ; more super- 

 ficially and practically, the bird is a summer resi- 

 dent, arriving as soon the snow leaves, and departing 

 with the freezing of the watery soil in which its 



