GALLINAGO WILSONL 875 



two forward, plunge his bill into the earth, ami draw out a worm which he would swallow, 

 then repeat this performance until all the worms \vere eaten. After the liird had he. n in 

 confinement for a few days, it became so tame that it would run and pick up the worms 

 that were thrown into its cage, taking two or three in its bill at one tim and devouring 

 them eagerly. This Woodcock had a peculiar way of walking and making its way amou- 

 the weeds, which reminded me more of the Rails than the Sandpipers. I kept it, two or 

 three weeks, then finding that it was almost impossible to supply a sullicient number of 

 worms to satisfy its hunger, I gave it liberty to fly from a window. It took a short flight 

 to a potato patch near and eagerly began probing for worms, but finally walked away, 

 disappearing among the weeds. 



The twittering or whistling notes of the Woodcocks, given as they rise, have often at- 

 tracted the attention of writers, some of whom aflinn that it is produced by the wings, oth- 

 ers that it is vocal, and I am inclined to the latter hypothesis, as the sound is withheld 

 sometimes and given at others. The song uttered during the breeding season, has also been 

 noticed considerably of late. I have never heard it but the notes are said to be almost as 

 varied as those given by some of our insessorial birds. Judging from the structure of the 

 larynx which is unique among the birds of this order, which I have examined, I .should 

 say, that although the notes might be varied, they would all be given in the same tone, 

 which would be decidedly minor; for, as a rule, I think the gradations of tone are produced 

 by the vibrations of the semilunar membrane which is absent in the Woodcocks. Of the 

 migration and autumnal habits of these birds, I shall not write, they being well-known to 

 all sportsmen. 



GENUS II. GALLINAGO. THE SNIPES. 



(IEN. Cn. Sill, more than twice at tony as head which it not very large. Ley$, short, not feathered to tartal joint. 

 Outrr feathi'rs of primaries not attenuated. Keel, exceeding in heiyht the width of tternum. Marginal indentations, two, 

 Jeep, inclosed in adults. Coracoids, equal in lenylh to heiyhl of keel. Hind toe, present. 



Tin? stomach is cuboid in form. <(iiite inu-eutar, and lined with a hard, rugose membrane. l*roTentriculu, moderate. 

 lull -i in, -s. Ian;.' and -hurt, with c<cca quite lung. Sterno-trachealis, not stout, and there is a slight hronohialis, hut no 

 other Inryngeal muscles. Tympaniform membrane, present, but there is no os transversale. Sexes, quite similar. There 

 is but onespecies within our limits. 



GALLINAGO WILSONI. 



Wilson's Snipe. 

 Gal/inayo Wilsoni HON., List; 1838 % 



DKSriMi'TION. 



SP. Cn. Form, ratter slender. Size, medium. Tongue, fleshy, iong, thin, and slender, narrowing toward tip which 

 is pointed. Sternum, stout. 



COLOR. Ailull. Above, very dark-brown, spotted, landed, anil streaked, excepting on primaries, with pale reddish 

 and wnite. Outer web of first primary, :ils:> wliito. Sides of head, yellowish-rufous, with lino from bill to eye an' i 

 ear ooverts, brown. Belly, alxlomen, under win;: o. ivert-. and axillaries, white, banded with brown. RanBtederofonder 

 jK>rti..n". yellowish-rod, banded and streaked, excepting "ii fio thro it. with brown. Tail, dark-brown, tipped with white 

 which is preceded by a broad band of chestnut-red, finely barred with blavk. 



Ynuny. Quite similar to the adult, but paler bslow and darker and more reddish above. Bill, irw and feet, brown, 

 in all stages, 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the slrndor form, long bill, bright chestnut on tail, and other l.>.-ribed. Distributed, in 



summer, from Northern New England, northward; wintering from the Carolina-, southward. 



