286 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



The nest of the Junco is placed on the ground, usually in the side 

 of a bank, and in a hollow so that the rim is level with the ground. 

 It is often most attractively situated among mosses, ferns and wood- 

 land plants. The nest shown in the illustration (figure 83) was 

 found in Quaker Run Valley, in a pasture close to the edge of the 

 forest. Another nest was discovered on Limestone Brook, and a 

 third was shown me above Frecks at the camp of the Buffalo Society 

 of Natural Sciences. 



Ruffed Grouse. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.) 



This bird is not easily mistaken for any other, it being the only 

 one of the true game bird group occurring naturally in the Park. 

 It is mainly mottled brown above and lighter beneath, and somewhat 

 smaller than the Crow. The roaring noise of its wings when it is 

 flushed in the woods is also sufficient identification. 



This bird is quite common in nearly all forested areas in the 

 Park. It is perhaps less frequently found in the mature timber but 

 such areas are small and scarce. It lives on the ground in the for- 

 est, occasionally perching in the lower limbs of trees. 



Aside from the noise made by the wings in flight this bird has 

 several call notes. A " tuck-tuck-tuck-tuck " as slow and measured 

 as the ticking of a clock, is the call of a mother bird to her brood. 

 When the young are in danger the mother produces a whining noise 

 as though in pain, and runs away dragging one wing. In spring 

 the male produces the loud drumming with his wings, a sound so 

 low in pitch one seems to feel rather than hear the vibrations. This 

 drumming is accelerated in time, beginning with slow beats, and 

 ending in a long roll. 



The nest is placed on the ground in the forest, usually at the 

 base of a tree or stump. Broods of young accompanied by the 

 mother bird, were observed commonly in the Park in early July. 



Since the sub-species of this bird in the Park is questionable, I 

 have left the name in binomial form. 



Woodcock. PhiloJicla minor (Gmel.) 



This bird, a little longer than the Robin, and with a decidedly 

 heavier body, may be known by its long bill and mottled brown and 

 black back. It could hardly be mistaken for any other bird, the 

 smaller size, longer bill and peculiar wavering flight separating it 

 immediately from the Ruffed Grouse. 



The Woodcock is well distributed in the forested areas of the 

 Park. It prefers woodland where the ground is moist and soft, 

 but this applies to many places other than the stream border areas, 

 and it seems to be commoner in the forest than along streams. 



This bird has a number of notes, some vocal and some made with 

 the wings. In early spring it indulges in a remarkable spiral flight 

 in the evening twilight, the wings making a curious winnowing 

 sound. Some vocal performances accompany this, particularly a 

 call " peent " which prefaces the flight and sounds much like the 

 call of the Niehthawk. 



