HABITS OF AMERICAN WOODCOCK 141 



dead leaves are pressed down so that the eggs will 

 have no tendency to roll away perhaps some down 

 or a few feathers are added and the nest is complete; 

 simplicity itself, yet most admirably adapted to its 

 purpose. In the vicinity of New York the eggs 

 are laid about the first week in April, and as the 

 period of incubation occupies eighteen days or 

 thereabouts, it will be seen that the young arrive 

 while the ground, which till so recently was covered 

 with snow, is still naked, for the spring plants have 

 not yet ventured from their mouldy cradles, so that 

 protection must be found among the crackling dead 

 leaves, and it is interesting to observe how very 

 closely their colouring coincides with that of the 

 dry leaves. Owing to the fact that the youngsters 

 leave the nest almost immediately after they are 

 hatched, we see how very important it is that they 

 should be protectively coloured. Young woodcock 

 obey the great law that governs fledgelings after 

 they leave the nest, which says that when an enemy 

 approaches no movement must be made. Sitting 

 absolutely still, these little balls of russet fluff are 

 safe from discovery, and even after the threatening 

 danger has passed they remain motionless until a 

 call from the parent bird informs them that there 

 is no longer need of concealment. 



How well the adult woodcock is protected by 

 its markings and coloration is well indicated in 

 the accompanying illustration, which is a faithful 

 reproduction of a photograph taken directly from 

 life. To insure accuracy as to colour values 

 (which is, of course, a most important item, and 

 one beyond the capacity of the ordinary plate to 



