AMERICAN WO OD CO CK 151 



The Ruffed Grouse likes the wildest, thickest 

 woods, preferably those which have never been dis- 

 turbed by man. He may still be found in some places 

 in Virginia, rarely at Falls Church. 



Wild Turkey: Meleagris gallopavo. 



The Wild Turkey resembles the domestic fowl, but 

 is more brilliant in color and his tail and its coverts 

 are tipped with chestnut-red instead of white. 



The nest is on the ground, generally under a bush. 



Resident (rare) all the year. 



American Woodcock: Philohela minor. 



Length n inches. 



Upper parts mixed black, brown, tawny, and gray. 



Under parts reddish-brown of different shades; a white 

 patch on the throat. 



Very long bill, and short, round tail. 



Resident (rather common) from February to November; 

 a few winter. 



Woodcock will be found in damp woods or thickets 

 near the Potomac or Anacostia swamps. They keep 

 secluded during the day and go out towards evening 

 to bore for worms. If, in the late afternoon, you 

 come across a group of small round holes freshly 

 bored in the mud you may know that Woodcock are 

 near. They are exceedingly shy birds and only by 

 keeping yourself unseen and unheard may you per- 

 haps " catch the beam of that dark liquid eye that has 

 no equal on earth," or witness the famous aerial 

 dance. 



The nest is on the ground, generally in the woods, 

 but sometimes in a corn-field. Four buffy, speckled 

 eggs are laid in a depression in the earth, with only a 

 few leaves under them. When the bird is sitting she 



