394 BAY-BIRDS. 



length of the head; straight, tapering, and flattened 

 towards the end ; eyes rather large, placed high in 

 the head, and far back from the bill ; neck of mode- 

 rate length, and rather thick; body full; wings 

 rather long and pointed ; tail moderate and rounded ; 

 legs moderate ; toes slender and rather long, except 

 the hind one ; middle toe longest, and connected at 

 the base with the inner by a slight weh, the outer 

 one being free. 



DOWITCHEE. 



Dowitch — Brown Back — Quail-Snipe — Eed-Breasted Snipe. 



Scolopax Novehoracensis, Wils. 



This is a beautiful, excellent, and plentiful bird ; it 

 abounds in the marshes during the entire summer, 

 congregates in vast flocks, and although uttering a 

 faint call itself, is attracted to the decoys by the cry 

 of the yellow-legs, or almost any sharp whistle. It is 

 remarkably gentle, individuals often alighting when 

 their associates are slain, in spite of the unusual 

 uproar ; and it can be more readily approached than 

 any of the bay-birds. Its flesh, moreover, is quite 

 delicate, and when fat somewhat similar to that of 

 the English snipe, which it greatly resembles in 

 appearance. In general color it is brownish, with a 

 light abdomen, but occasionally the breast is as red 

 as that of a robin in full plumage. Its flight is 

 steady, although when alarmed it " skivers," or darts 

 about rapidly, and as it flies in close ranks, it sufifers 

 proportionally. Although it is rather looked down 



