496 THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



crossed sharply by two narrow, ochraceous bars, and bounded indistinctly by the 

 same color; much black on back and scapulars centrally, together with V-shaped, 

 terminal margins of ochraceous ; wing-coverts finely mottled dusky and ochra- 

 ceous; wing-quills plain fuscous; the first three primaries very narrow, and 

 stiffened; tail ashy-tipped above, below silvery white; tibiffi fully feathered; bill 

 brownish; feet and legs pale ruddy. Length 10.50-12.00 (266.7-304.8); av. of 

 six Columbus specimens: wing 5.13 (130.3); tail 2.27 (57.7); bill 2.65 (67.3); 

 tarsus 1.27 (32.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin to Kingfisher size; rusty coloration; long bill, 

 and eyes set far back in the head. 



Nest, a slight depression in ground of damp woods, lined with dry leaves. 

 Eggs, buffy or light drab, spotted distinctly and obscurely with reddish brown. 

 Av. size, 1.58 X 1. 17 (40.1 X 29.7). 



General Range. — Eastern North America north to the British Provinces; 

 west to Dakota, Kansas, etc., breeding throughout its range. No extralimital 

 record except Bermuda. 



Range in Ohio. — Common summer resident throughout the state. Decreas- 

 ing in numbers. 



TO anyone who handles a gun the peculiar sharp whistle of a Wood- 

 cock's wings is one of those sounds which serves to epitomize a whole chapter 

 of sport. It is the signal for instant action, the challenge whose prompt 

 acceptance distinguishes the sportsman from the rest. The Woodcock is 

 a game bird par excellence. The comparative difficulty of his chosen retreats 

 — damp woods choked with undergrowth, sodden thickets, and corners of 

 lowland meadows overgrown with weeds; the suddenness of his alarm; 

 the deviousness and brevity of his way in the air; — all these are elements 

 Avhich give zest to the chase, and afford the bird that running chance for 

 life which it is the delight of every true sportsman to concede. The bird, 

 too, is really delicious, a trifle small in comparison with his European rela- 

 tive, but still "big. for his bulk," for he is a hearty and persistent feeder. 



The Woodcock is nocturnal or crepuscular in his habits, both flying 

 and feeding after sunset. In spring, wet woods bordering streams, second- 

 growth clearings, and open or sylvan bogs are frequented. In favorite 

 localities, such as the seepage pools bordering levees, one may hear the almost 

 incessant whistle of wings as the birds shift from place to place, where 

 their presence in daytime was scarcely suspected. Examination in the morn- 

 ing of the ground traversed will show a multitude of holes, borings in the 

 mud, where the "bog-sucker" has thrust in his bill in search of worms. 

 It is not quite certain whether the bird prods the earth at random, or whether 

 he is guided by the sense of smell, or even by some subtler instinct in his 

 quest. Certain it is, however, that the Woodcock secures enormous quan- 

 tities of angle-worms — more than his own weight in a single night, it is 

 believed. The tip of the bird's bill is enlarged and very sensitive, so that 

 no mistakes are made during those dark underground meetings. The end 



