AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 171 



detachment near the mouth of the Shannon ; but instead 

 of being the alighting point of the American bird, this 

 coast is in reality the ultima tlmle of the European one. 



The American bird is confined to much warmer 

 latitudes than the other, wintering in the Southern States, 

 and in summer venturing no farther north than the 

 Great Lakes of Canada: climates compared with which 

 an Irish winter would be of a temperature almost fatal to 

 its existence. 



It breeds in all parts of Canada from March to May, 

 and sometimes as late as June. The nest is very roughly 

 and clumsily formed, under any prostrate tree or 

 collection of dead branches, and contains four eggs, 

 nearly equal in size to those of the pigeon, and of an 

 olive colour, mottled with pale brown spots. There are 

 generally two broods in the year, the earlier family being 

 watched and taken care of by the male bird during the 

 second incubation of the female, and even until the 

 younger brood is fully grown, or at any rate able to 

 travel, when a brief journey northwards is undertaken 

 by the whole. 



In many points, as regards their habits, the American 

 Snipe and Woodcock resemble one another very closely, 

 and are certainly more nearly allied than their congeners 

 of the Old World. The Woodcock, however, moves 

 farther southward than the snipe, and does not appear to 



