SHORK BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 30 



commonly north of the Carolinas. It is occasionally observed in Florida in 

 winter, and is very abundant in the swamps of Alabama and Louisiana at some 

 seasons. The eggs are usually four, mottled and spotted with brown. 



The European Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola] is larger than our bird, and 

 may be easily distinguished from it by the heavily barred under parts, and 

 having the wings also barred with rufous brown. The outer primary is not 

 emarginate, as in the American species. There are numerous records of the 

 occurrence of this bird in eastern North America. 



GENUS GALLINAGO LEACH. 



GALLINAGO DELICATA (Oni). 



Wilson's Snipe. 



ENGLISH SNIPE. JACK SNIPE. GUTTER SNIPE. 



Adult: Bill, loug and straight, being slightly enlarged near the 

 tip and showing numerous small pits; no web between outer and 

 middle toes ; general upper parts, dark brown, tawny brown, pale 

 yellow, dull white ; top of the head, black with middle stripe of tawny 

 brown; outer web of first primary, white; greater wing coverts, 

 brownish or dusky with white tips ; axillars and under surface of 

 wings, barred with black ; upper tail coverts, tawny brown barred 

 with black; tail feathers, chestnut brown with subterminal black 

 bar; tips, white, and feathers marked witli black at the base; under Gallinago delicate, 

 parts, white ; breast and throat, speckled and lined with brown ; sides of the body, brownish 

 barred with dull black. 



Length, 11; wing, 5; tail, 2.20; tarsus, 1.25; bill, 2.40 to 2.60. 



The English Snipe, or Wilson's Snipe, is one of our best known game birds 

 and is very abundant in suitable localities during the migrations. It ranges 

 from Canada and British Columbia, south, in winter to the West Indies, and 

 even to South America. It breeds from the latitude of New England north- 

 ward. The nest is placed on the ground, and the eggs are three or four, 

 u-ually of a grayish ash color blotched with chocolate brown, heaviest at the 

 largest end. They measure 1.50 x 1.15. In some localities in the Southern 

 States, during the winter months, thousands of these birds are killed on the 

 marshes where they collect on some especially good feeding ground. When 

 first disturbed they utter a peculiar cheep as they rise from the ground, often 

 repeated during their night, which is very irregular, making them one of the 

 most difficult birds to shoot. 



