THE BIEDS OF NEW JERSEY. 125 



has done much to reduce the numbers of this splendid bird until it 

 has been classed among the vanishing game birds. 1 



During the mating season the male Woodcock at dusk performs a re- 

 markable aerial performance, mounting in a spiral, his rapidly mov- 

 ing wings making a continuous whistle, and then back to earth pre- 

 paratory to another ascent. 



230 Gal linage delicata (Ord). 

 Wilson's Snipe, English Snipe. 



PLATE 19. 



Adults-- Length, 10-12. Wing, 5-5.30. Above, black, striped and mottled 

 with buff and rusty ; edge of outer primary and tips of greater coverts, white ; 

 throat and abdomen, white ; breast, buff, mottled with dusky ; sides broadly 

 barred with black ; under tail-coverts, buff, barred with black ; tail, rufous, 

 barred with black and tipped with white; middle feathers, largely black. A 

 dusky line from the eye to the bill and another across the ear-coverts. 



Ne#t a hollow on the ground ; eggs, three to four, olive or buffy-brown, heavily 

 mottled with darker brown, 1.50 x 1.10. 



A regular transient, occurring in spring, March 20th to May 10th ; 

 sometimes as early as March 3d; in autumn, from October 1st to 

 December 1st, and casually all winter. Dr. C. C. Abbott has seen it 

 in winter at Trenton, and Mr. Scott has found it in springy places 

 where the ground remains unfrozen. Mr. S. N. Rhoads found one at 

 Haddonfield in midwinter about 1875. W. B. Evans 2 saw one at 

 Moorestown December 25th, 1902, and Mr. W. A. Babson 3 shot one 

 January 4th, 1900, at Princeton. 



In the vicinity of New York Mr. Chapman 4 says that a few pass 

 the winter. 



Wounded birds have been observed as late as June by Mr. Scott at 

 Princeton, and Turnbull says some stay during summer. Mr. Her- 

 rick 5 reports that such birds have nested on several occasions near 

 Chatham, and Dr. Abbott (1868) states that some breed at Trenton, 

 but gives no specific instance. 



The only positive record with which I am acquainted is a nest 

 found a few years ago at Newfoundland by Mr. A. R. Dugmore. 



1 Gf. A. K. Fisher, Two Vanishing Game Birds, U. S. Dept. Agriculture. 



2 Bird Lore, 1903, p. 17. 



3 Birds of Princeton, p. 42. 



4 Birds Vicinity of N. Y., p. 39. 



6 Forest and Stream, 1879, p. 165. 



