124 BIRDS 



flying rapidly away in a zigzag course, suddenly dropping 

 back into cover. 



Various tints in the plumage harmonize remarkably with 

 the brush, grass, and leaves when the woodcock is on her 

 nest. A soft, leafy hollow in the earth at the base of a shrub 

 or under a fallen bush is used for nesting purposes. While 

 the bird is laying she cleverly covers her eggs with leaves, 

 commencing incubation when the fourth and last egg is laid. 



Sitting woodcocks exhibit so much confidence in their 

 protective coloration that I have frequently removed the 

 parent from the nest with my hand. I have watched them 

 for hours, and have yet to see a sitting bird show uneasiness 

 until I am within two feet of the nest, unless her winking is 

 too quick for human eye; she is able to suppress even that. 

 The male is usually found near the incubating bird. 



Often the country is covered by a snowfall in April, 

 when the woodcock becomes wary and vacates the nest at 

 the least indication of danger. This clearly illustrates that 

 she realizes protective coloration has ceased while the earth 

 is clothed in white. 



The four eggs are creamy or light brown, spotted and 

 blotched with various shades of brown and lilac. Incubation 

 continues three weeks, and the young leave the nest as soon 

 as hatched to be piloted about tlu-ough the underbrush. 



WILSON SNIPE 



This famous game bird, known also as jacksnipe, Eng- 

 lish snipe, and common snipe, has an extensive range cover- 

 ing North America in general. Late in March Wilson Snipe 



