NORTH AMERICAN lilJtDS. 



133 



This exceedingly long-legged bird is distributed throughout the United States, 

 and like the Avocet, is rare in the eastern 

 portions. It is abundant in the "West, but 

 its range is rather more southerly than 

 that of the Avocet. In Ohio it is a rare 

 summer visitor. Perhaps breeds. The 

 nest of the Stilt is often only a slight de- 

 pression in the ground, lined with dry 

 grasses, situated along some stream or 

 ditch, or near water ; some collectors have 

 found the nest at the water's edge, or on 

 a heaped mass of vegetation just above the 

 surface of shallow water. A. M. Shields 

 says that the Stilt arrives in the vicinity 

 of Los Angeles, Gala., about May 1st, and 

 the eggs may be found fresh until the 

 middle of June. He states that the birds 

 usually congregate in large flocks in some 

 suitable locality, and build their nests 

 close together, a score or more are often 

 found within a few yards of each other; 

 the nests being composed of small sticks 

 and roots, closely laid together and placed 

 among the grass on the margin of a lake 

 or river.* This record refers to the 

 abundance of the Stilt in the season of 226. Black-necked Stilt. 



1883, and those previous; but I am informed by Mr. Shields that the bird is not s© 

 abundant as formerly, only a few pair breeding in the neighborhood of Los Angeles 

 each year. The eggs are of a greenish-yellow, thickly spotted, blotched and lined 

 irregularly with brownish-black of varying shades; pyriform in shape; three or four 

 in number; sizes from 1.60 to 1;85 long by 1.15 to 1.25 broad. 



[227.] ETJKOPEAN "WOODCOCK. liScolopax rusticola Linn. Geog. Dist.— Old. 

 "World ; occasional in Eastern North America. 



The European "Woodcock is widely distributed over the northern parts of the 



Old "World. It is of larger size than the 

 American bird. Many instances are on 

 record of its breeding in various parts 

 of Great Britain, but the greater por- 

 tion of the birds are considered mi- 

 gratory. Breeds abundantly in iSIor- 

 way, Sweden, Lapland and in Northern 

 Russia. Nocturnal in its habits, repos- 

 ing in the daytime in grassy bottoms in 

 woods, and at twilight it regains 

 activity, resorting to open glades and 

 marshy bottoms, where it feeds. These 

 tracts are known as "cock-shoots," or 

 "cock-roads." The food of the birds is 

 the common earth-worm, which they 

 procure by boring, or thrusting their 

 bills into the soft mud. The nest con- 

 sists of a few leaves loosely laid to- 

 gether, and without lining. The eggs 

 are usually four in number; of a pale 

 yellowish-white, blotched and spotted 

 with various shades, ashy-gray and 

 reddish or yellowish-brown; most nu- 

 merous about the larger end. Four eggs 

 measure 1.75x1.27, 1.74x1.27, 1.73x1.23, 

 1.77x1.28. 



Edkopean Woodcock. 



♦ Young Oologist, Vol. I, p. 41. 



