97 



Woodcocks haunt moist or wet shrubbery, alder or hazel thickets, or 

 the tangled edges of damp woods. They spring suddenly from the ground 

 on being disturbed, rise erratically on peculiarly whistling wings, and 

 passing just over the tops of the underbrush drop suddenly in concealment 

 again a few rods beyond. It is well within the memory of the present 

 generation that the thickets of southern Ontario swarmed with Woodcock; 

 but now, owing to the unrestricted shooting, the drainage and clearing of 

 waste lands, and perhaps the depredations of the domestic cat, the 

 Woodcock is a scarce, almost a rare bird. Unlike the Ruffed Grouse or 

 Partridge, which requires considerable and virgin ranges, there is no 

 fundamental reason why the Woodcock should not remain plentiful and 

 give abundance of sport for years to come. Almost any small retired 

 covert of damp shrubbery will suffice for its needs. The Woodcock leaves 

 for the south very shortly after the open season begins and is not long 

 subject to legitimate shooting. Next to man, the cat seems to be its 

 principal enemy, and as the Woodcock lives and nests on the ground, 

 trusting to protective coloration and hiding to avoid danger, it is pecu- 

 liarly open to feline attack. 



230. Wilson's Snipe. JACK SNIPE. SNIPE. FR. LA BECASSINE DE WILSON. Gallin- 

 ago delicata. L, 11-25. Plate VIII A. 



Distinctions. Unlikely to be mistaken for any other species in Canada, but the red- 

 dish brown tail, whitening on the outer feathers, and barred with black, will distinguish it 

 if necessary. 



Field Marks. Habitat (open grassy meadows), long bill, peculiar corkscrew flight 

 as it rises, combined with size, general coloration, and reddish brown and whitish tail. 

 The Woodcock and the Dowitcher are the only other similar birds. 



Distribution. Breeds across the continent, coming just within the bounds of culti- 

 vation and irregularly to our southern borders. Common throughout the Dominion. 



Subfamily Eroliinae. Sandpipers. 



Genus Limmodronus. Dowitchers. 



231. Dowitcher. RED-BREASTED SNIPE, ROBIN SNIPE. FR. LA BECASSINE ROTISSE. 

 Limmodronus griseus. L, 10-50. Spring adult throat, foreneck, breast, and all under- 

 parts strongly reddish. Back and upperparts variegated with shades of same and dark 

 brown. Autumn plumage dull greyish brown on head, neck, upper breast, flanks, and 

 back, variegated with clearer brown on the latter; white below. Lower back always white. 

 Intermediates of all above plumages occur. 



Distinctions. Same general appearance as Wilson's Snipe, but with red front and 

 underparts in spring, and without the rich browns of that species in autumn. Bill is longer 

 in comparison with size than any other bird except Wilson's Snipe. A very similar red 

 breast occurs in the Knot, but the longer bill of the Dowitcher (L, 2-10-2-50 against 

 L, 1-30) is conclusive identification. 



Field Marks. About the size and general outline of Wilson's Snipe, but with conspicu- 

 ous white on lower back and more white on tail. Habitat also different. 



Distribution. Breeds in the far north, west and probably east of Hudson bay. Scarce 

 on Great Lakes, more common on coast. Our eastern migrants are supposedly New 

 Quebec breeders, but accurate data on this point are lacking. 



SUBSPECIES. A slightly differentiated subspecies, the Long-billed Dowitcher 

 L.g. scolopaceus occurs in the west. It is distinguished by its slightly larger size, longer 

 bill, heavier spotting of breast, and more extensive red below. It is difficult to differentiate 

 bright plumages, and birds and juveniles can rarely be told apart. The Long-billed 

 Dowitcher is to be expected in eastern Canada only in the Great Lakes region and its occur- 

 rence should not be recorded unless the specimen has been well compared with authentic 

 material. 



A bird frequenting mud flats rather than grassy meadows. 



