THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 495 



TWICE only have I seen flocks of these tardy migrants resting on the 

 Lake Erie shore or feeding on moist plowed lands adjacent to it. On May 

 22nd, 1897, several squads, aggregating twenty-five birds, were seen on the 

 pebbly beach west of Lorain. They appeared fatigued after their long jour- 

 ney, but were quite wary and could be approached only by stealth. For 

 the most part they kept back from the water's edge upon the dry sand, but 

 one waded boldly into the water and allowed the low waves to buffet him 

 repeatedly. On June 4th, 1903, in company with Rev. W. F. Henninger, 

 of Tiffin, I was surprised and delighted, in view of the late date, to see a 

 flock of sixteen of these waders feeding industriously on a large piece of 

 leclaimed swamp land near Port Clinton. By cautious approach under cover 

 of a dyke, we were able to see that both sexes were about equally repre- 

 sented in the flock, and noticed the patchy pattern of white, black and 

 intense rufous, as it was thrown into relief by the black, mucky soil. The 

 birds were silent and intent only upon feeding. This they did by advancing 

 slowly over the plowed ground and gleaning from its surface, and by turning 

 over the clods which lay in their path to search eagerly beneath. It was 

 rather amusing to see a bird walk up to a clod bigger than itself and several 

 times as heavy, insert its beak and give an odd little bunt and upward jerk, 

 which would send the clod rolling a foot or more. Sometimes a lump, more 

 firmly imbedded, offered resistance, in which case the bird would make 

 another honest effort, or pass on unconcerned. In flight the Turnstones 

 bunch closely at first, but afterward scatter a little more widely, and wheel 

 and turn after the manner of the Killdeers in autumn. The chief impres- 

 sion was of flashing white as they quartered before the sun or as they settled 

 again in some distant portion of the field with wings daintily uplifted. 



These handsome waders are somewhat irregular in their migrating 

 movements, and it is said that the duties of incubation are attended to in 

 the far north, and the return journey commenced within the short space of 

 two months. 



No. 225. 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



A. O. U. No. 228. Philohela minor (Gmel.). 



Description. Adult : Below ochraceous-buff, vinaceous-rufous or even 

 cinnamon-rufous, especially on sides, unmarked ; above pale grayish brown, heavily 

 blotched with black, and with much edging and mottling- of the shade of the under 

 parts ; the chin whitish vinaceous, and the anterior portion of the head in general, 

 with a somewhat bleached appearance ; a narrow, black bar from bill to eye, and 

 another paralleling it about half an inch further back ; hind head and nape black, 



