Jan., 1909. Birds of Illixois axd Wisconsin — Cory. 395 



fine specimen taken in McLean County, Illinois, in the collection of 

 the Illinois Natural History Society at Normal, 111. Ridgway says 

 (Orn. of 111., 1895, p. 76): "While on record only as a summer 

 visitant, the Stilt undoubtedly breeds in some portions of the state." 

 In Wisconsin, it is a ver}' rare straggler, the only known record being 

 that of Dr. Hoy (Transactions of the Wisconsin Agri. Soc, Vol. II, 

 1852, p. 355) who says: "Met a small flock of these singular birds 

 near Racine, in 1847." 



This species is given in Gibbs's Birds of ^Michigan as a "rare tran- 

 sient." 



Family SCOLOPACID.^. Snipes, 

 Sandpipers, etc. 



The Scolopacidae comprise a large family, a hundred or more species 

 being known from various parts of the world. Nearly 50 species 

 occur in North America. The greater portion of these birds frequent 

 the beaches and marshes, some, however, are partial to open fields. 

 The majority of them procure their food by probing with their sensi- 

 tive bills in mud or sand. Their flesh is excellent and they are much 

 sought after by sportsmen during the migrations. 



Genus PHILOHELA Gray. 



107. Philohela minor (Gmel.). 

 Woodcock. 



Distr.: Eastern North America, from British Provinces westward 

 to North Dakota and Kansas and south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Adult: Bill, long, corrugated near the end; upper parts variegated 

 with tawny rufous, brown and black; head, rufous brown, banded 

 on the occiput with alternate bands of black and tawny brown; a 

 line of black from the eye to the bill ; a narrow patch on the sides of the 

 lower head, blackish; throat, pale rufous or rufous white; under parts 

 of the body, pale rufous; quills, brownish; three outer primaries, very 

 narrow ; tail feathers, dusky, tipped with ash; bill, pale brown, yellow- 

 ish at the base; legs, reddish; bill, light brown, paler and yellowish 

 at base. 



Length, 11.50; wing, 5.45; tarsus, 1.30; bill, 2.90 to 3.05. 



