AMERICAN SNIPE. 469 



The"Woodcock, during the breeding season, frequents dense woods, and 

 swampy thickets, more rarely high woods, even hill sides, but in this 

 case in the vicinity of water. After the breeding season they are often 

 found in more open wet places, especially at night, for their habits are 

 quite nocturnal. Corn-fields, pastures and commons with a rich loamy 

 soil are favorite places of resort after sunset. 



When disturbed from the nest or the young are endangered, the parent 

 exhibits remarkable sagacity in attracting attention to herself and from 

 the objects of her affection, and feigns lameness in limb and wing, often 

 leading the observer to a hopeless and comical pursuit. 



The nest of the Woodcock is placed upon the ground, at the root of a 

 tree, in a clump of weeds, or without any attempt at concealment, in re- 

 tired woodland. It composed of a few dead leaves. The eggs are four in 

 number, light grayish-brown with brownish blotches and shading ; they 

 measure 1.50 by 1.15. 



Genus GALLI.VAGO. Leach. 

 Bill much longer than the head, straight, soft to the end -where it is somewhat widened 

 and grooved on top ; gape short and narrow ; ear under eye ; tibise feathered nearly to 

 the joint ; tarsus a little shorter than the middle toe and claw ; tees unwehbed. 



Gallinaso wilsoni (Temm.) Bp. 



-American Snipe: Wilson's Snipe. 



Scolopax Kilsonii, Kietlakd, Ohio Geolog. Snrv., 1838, 165. 



GalUnago wiUonii, Wheaton, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 368; Reprint, 1861, 10; Food of 



Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 572 ; Reprint, 1875, 13. — Langdon, Summer 



Birds, Jonrn. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist, iii, 1880, 226. 

 Gallinagouilsoni, Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 14; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soo. 



Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 182; Reprint, 16. 

 Snipe, Chubb, Forest and Stream, xiv, 1880, 307. 



Seolopax loilaoni, Temminck, PI. Color., v, livr. Ixviii. 

 GalKnago wilsoni, Bonaparte, Comp. List, 1838, 52. 



Crown black with a pale middle stripe; back varied with black, bright bay and 

 tawny, the latter forming two lengthwise stripes on the scapulars ; neck and breast 

 speckled with brown and dusky ; lining of wings barred with black and white ; tail, 

 usually of 16 feathers, barred with black, white and chestnut ; sides waved with dusky ; 

 belly dull white ; quills blackish, the outer white-edged. Length, 9-11; wing, 4|-5J; 

 bill, about 2i ; whole naked portion of leg and foot, about 3. 



Habitat, the whole of North America, and southward to South America. Mexico. 

 West Indies. Breeds from Northern New England northward. 



Abundant spring and fall migrant in March, April and often in May, 

 September, October. Occasional summer resident in Northern Ohio, 

 though no authentic instances of its breeding have been recorded. 



This well-known game bird is a regular migrant, often in great num- 



