162 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
June roth, 1891, I found a large colony of avocets nesting on an 
island in a small lake ten miles north of Rush lake, Sask. I again 
visited this place on June 15th, 1895, when I found the big colony 
still at its old breeding haunts. There must have been some 200 
nests on the island and they were so close together that I had to 
use caution in walking for fear of treading on the eggs. The nests 
were stinply hollows in the sand lined with bits of grass. (Razne.) 
Famity XXI. SCOLOPACIDAM. Snipes, SANDPIPERS, &C. 
XCI. SCOLOPAX Linnzus. 1758. 
227. European Wocdcock, 
Scolopax rusticola LINN. 1758. 
A single specimen is said to have been killed in the neighbour- 
hood of St. Johns, Newfoundland, in January, 1862. (Reeks.) A 
specimen was shot at Chambly, Quebec, on the rith November, 
1882, by a French Canadian, and was secured by Mr. Brock Willett. 
It was sent to the late Mr. William Couper to be stuffed, who re- 
corded its occurrence in the Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist. 
(Wntle.) 
XCII: PHILGHELA Gray. 1841. 
228. American Woodcock. 
Philohela manor (GMEL.) GRAY. 1841. 
Several persons stated they had killed woodcock on the eastern 
shores of Labrador. (Packard.) 
This species is common in Nova Scotia and breeds early in spring. 
(Downs, Tufts.) An abundant summer resident in New Brunswick 
where it also breeds. (Chamberlain.) Found breeding at George- 
town, Prince Edward island, August 17th, 1888; common in Quebec 
and eastern Ontario, but more abundant in the western part of 
the province. It breeds throughout its range. Not so common 
as formerly in most parts of Ontario. 
This species is a rare summer resident in Manitoba, and pro- 
bably does not extend farther west than Brandon, as no specimens 
have ever been seen or recorded beyond that place—150 miles 
west of Winnipeg. 
