On Birds observed in Amelia County, Virginia. 91 



of their whistling wings rising and falling like a song. The males 

 also bleat much like the English snipe, but this is always done on 

 the ground.* I have shot them in the act to satisfy myself on 

 the subject. I believe it is a call to the female. They chose 

 some clear spot in the open land, where the heavy rains have 

 washed the subsoil bare — locally called " galls," — and to this they 

 repair a little after sunset, just as it is getting dark. The yame 

 spot will be tenanted by them every night, bleating for their 

 mates. I have seen woodcocks fly to the bleating birds, which I 

 presume were females, though I have never shot one to deter- 

 mine the sex. 



Gallinago wilsoni (Temm.) Wilson's Snipe. — This bird was 

 very uncommon in my vicinity. I have only taken it twice, on 

 both occasions in spring ; once three birds out of four seen ; the 

 second a single bird on April 25th. 



Ehyacophilus solitarius (Wils.) Solitary Sandpiper. — One 

 occasionally sees it by the river side, especially where floods have 

 backed the water out over the adjoining land. It is, however, not 

 very common. I have taken it in May several times, and also 

 once in autumn, I believe it remains all through the summer. 



Ardea herodias (Linn.) Great Blue Heron. — Not very com- 

 mon, buo may be seen occaaionally throughout spring, summer, 

 and autumn, fishing by the river side. The earliest date I have 

 of its arrival is the 14th of April, 



Butorides virescens (Linn.) Green Heron. — It arrives about 

 the end of May, and is a common bird until autumn by the side 

 of rivers and streams. I have often watched them creeping 

 stealthily along the edge of the water by the river side, and 

 pouncing like lightning on a little fish, which glitters for a moment 

 in their bill. They also eat frogs, but I have generally seen them 

 catch fish. 



BoTAURUS lentiginosus (Mont.) American Bittern. — Not 

 common. I have only seen it in spring. 



Bernicla canadensis (Linn.) Canada Goose. — They arrive 

 in October. The earliest record I have is the 22nd of that month. 

 In December they are often in very large flocks on the low- 

 grounds bordering the rivers, whence the Indian corn has lately 

 been removed. They generally assemble for the night on some 



* On perfectly calm evenings wV.qw there was no wind to act on their feathers. 



