SNIPES 95 



SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC.: Family Scolopacidae. 

 WOODCOCK: Rubicola minor (Gmelin).* 



State records. — The woodcock, one of our most famous 

 game birds, is a permanent resident, generally distributed in 

 the State, but nowhere very abundant. It is sometimes called 

 "hill partridge," or "swamp partridge." McCormack con- 

 siders it rather rare at Leighton, where he has observed it in 

 December, January, February, March, and July. Avery re- 

 ports it uncommon at Greensboro. Golsan and Holt report 

 that it is resident in small numbers in Autauga and Montgom- 

 ery Counties; and that about 20 birds were seen near Mont- 

 gomery, January 12, 1913.t Mrs. B. R. Samuel has a specimen 

 taken at Guntersville. It is said to be fairly numerous in 

 Mobile County in winter, and has been reported also from 

 Coosada, Weogufka Creek (Coosa County), and Pleasant Hill. 

 McCormack found a nest at Leighton, March 15, 1892; and 

 Avery found one at Greensboro, February 23, 1893, contain- 

 ing four slightly incubated eggs. 



General habits. — The woodcock is a dweller in low, swampy 

 woodland and marshy meadows. Being mainly nocturnal or 

 crepuscular in habit, it remains during the daytime concealed 

 in woods or thickets and is flushed only by accident or by 

 hunting dogs. At twilight it resorts to its favorite feeding 

 places in wet meadows or wooded swamps, where it procures 

 its food by probing in the soft ground with its long bill. In 

 spring, at morning and evening, it indulges in a remarkable 

 spiral flight accompanied by a peculiar series of whistled or 

 twittering notes — ^the love song of the bird. 



Food habits. — The chief food of the woodcock consists of 

 worms and the larvae of various insects; occasionally it in- 

 cludes beetles, locusts, or other insects, and small seeds. 



WILSON SNIPE ; JACKSNIPE : Capella gallinago delicata 



(Ord).t 



State records. — The Wilson snipe, commonly known as the 

 "jacksnipe," or "squatting snipe," occurs as an abundant mi- 



*Philahela minor of the A. O. U. Cheek-list; for change of name see The Auk, vol. 

 40, p. 616, 1923. 



fThe Auk vol 31, p. 218, 1914. 



iGallinago delicata of the A. O. U. Check-list ; for change of name see The Auk, vol. 

 88. V- 2*6, 1921. 



