DESCRIPTIVE LIST 125 



The Woodcock is a resident in North Carolina, but our native population is con- 

 siderably augmented during the colder months by an influx of birds from farther 

 north. 



The nest is a slight depression on the ground among the fallen leaves, usually in 

 a thicket of young trees. So closely do the colorings of the bird's plumage blend with 

 the surroundings that one may pass within a few feet of a brooding bird without 

 discovering its presence. Apparently Woodcocks are well aware of this, for they 

 will often sit until almost trod upon before taking wing. 



Their nests are often found in March, but our knowledge of the full extent of the 

 nesting season is quite limited. On October 5, 1909, Pearson saw one in a swamp 

 in Guilford County flutter along the ground as if accompanied by young. 



The European Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (Linn.), a considerably larger but very similar 

 bird, has been found as a straggler from Newfoundland to Virginia. It may be distinguished 

 by its size, and by the underparts being cross-banded with dark brown. L., 13.50; W., 8.CO. 



; Genus Gallinago (Koch.) 



103. Gallinago delicata (Ord.). WILSON'S SNIPE. 



Ads. Upperparts black, barred, bordered, and mottled with different shades of cream-buff; 

 wings fuscous; outer edge of outer primary and tips of greater coverts white; throat white; 

 neck and breast ochraceous-buff, indistinctly streaked with blackish; belly white, sides barred 

 with black; under tail-coverts buffy, barred with black; outer tail-feathers barred with black 

 and white, inner ones black, barred with rufous at their ends and tipped with whitish. L., 

 11.25; W., 5.00; Tar., 1.20; B., 2.50. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. North America and northern South America, breeding from Pennsylvania north- 

 ward, and wintering from North Carolina southward. 



Range in North Carolina. -Common throughout the State during the migrations; it winters 

 in the coastal region. 



FIG. 86. WILSON'S SNIPE. 



This, the best known and most widely distributed game-bird of the snipe and 

 sandpiper family, occurs plentifully in suitable situations during the spring migra- 

 tions, reaching its greatest abundance in March. Wet meadows, marshes, and 

 burnt-over lowgrounds are its favorite haunts. Its distribution is very irregular, but 

 all over the eastern half or two-thirds of the State it is likely to be found in suitable 

 localities at any time from a warm spell in the latter part of February up to the 

 last week in April. It is comparatively rare in the fall. In the eastern and south- 



