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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Fig .2. Photo from life by C. A. Reed. 



minutes although it sounded nearer every time it was repeated. It was 

 an unexpected treat when the author of the sound suddenly appeared 

 beside the nest as Mr. Woodcock. I had not supposed that the male 

 Woodcock would appear about the nest until after dusk, but he dis- 

 proved that supposition. 



The picture that he made as he proudly strutted about her was one 

 that I would give a great deal to be able to have shown with the cam- 

 era. It was one of the opportunities that will probably never present 

 itself again and I was unable to take advantage of it. Possibly if I had 

 had a Grafiex camera I might have caught them, but the light was poor 

 and it is doubtful if I could have focussed upon them without attracting 

 their attention. His head was thrown well back upon his shoulders 

 and the tail, which was fully spread in the form of a fan, was thrown 

 forward so that it touched the back of the he^d. No peacock that ever 

 strutted was prouder than this male Woodcock. He seemed utterly 

 oblivious to everything but his own self, and tripped over nearly every 

 twig that was in the way. Perhaps he was an inspiring sight in the 

 eyes of the female, but he seemed to me to be a very ludicrous one. 



