8 The Wilson Bulletin. 



as well as woodcock, support themselves by suction. This, 

 of course, is as erroneous in the one case as in the other." 



Mr. Chapman (Handbook of Birds, p. 154), on authority 

 of Mr. Brewster, tells us that "two things are essential to 

 its requirements — ground so thoroughly water -soaked as to 

 afford slight resistance to its long and highly sensitive bill, 

 when probing, and such concealment as tussocks, hillocks, 

 or long grass afford ; for, unlike the sandpipers, the snipe 

 rarely ventures out on bare mud-fiats, save under cover of 

 darkness. Although less strictly nocturnal than woodcock, 

 it feeds and migrates chiefly by night or in thick weather." 



It has been thought advisable, in this connection, to make 

 use of the foregoing quotations, that the remarks to follow 

 might be better understood, which, if new, may throw some 

 additional light upon a most interesting subject. 



Our Glen P^llyn lake was unusually low and dry the past 

 season, in consequence of which the autumnal crop of wa- 

 ders was considerably above the average. 



Pectorals comprised the bulk, yet there were Solitaries, 

 some Spotted and not a few Least Sandpipers in the lot. 

 Also from two to three dozen Kildeer, both species of Yel- 

 low-legs, as well, coming in for a representation. 



As if to add still further variety, the Great Blue and little 

 Green Herons contributed their stately presence, while swim- 

 mers and divers were accounted for in a flock of sixteen 

 Blue-winged Teal and half as many Dabchicks. It was a 

 busy gathering, to which the well-known "Jacks" added a 

 conspicuous feature during the early days of September. 



Barring slight alterations, the several groups of birds in 

 feeding arranged themselves about the lake as follows : first, 

 the outer zone of sandpipers and Kildeer, which apparently 

 picked up a comfortable subsistence from beneath the re- 

 mains of algae found anywhere upon the flats ; second, the 

 snipe in the muddier parts ; third, the ducks and herons of 

 the shallows adjoining ; and finally the grebes, which 

 showed a marked preference for the deeper water of the 

 lake. 



