o 



68 REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



says: "There is a reason for the absolute disappearance of these birds from many 

 places, to be found in the draining of the lands." 



From the fact that their feeding grounds are low meadows and bog lands, easily 

 bored for worms, it is evident that drainage would destroy them for feeding 

 purposes, and therefore they are driven to other haunts for subsistence. I have 

 known snipe to bore into the fresh-turned earth where the great breaking plow 

 with its two yoke of oxen had made deep furrows through a boggy swale. While 

 the plowmen were at dinner up at the house, scores of snipe were gathering 

 luscious earthworms from the newly turned black soil of the bog down in the field. 

 There is good reason to suppose that with some additional protection snipe may 

 become much more numerous than now. 



Markings. "Throat and belly white or whitish; breast rusty buff indistinctly 

 streaked; sides barred; above, streaked black and- cream buff; tail black and 

 rusty; outer feathers barred black and white." 



The Woodcock {Philohela minor). 



This bird easily takes first place among the waders. Because what he has 

 said of this bird is so well said, I have taken the liberty of quoting largely from 

 Mr. Dwight W. Huntington's admirable chapter, devoted to the woodcock. He 

 says: "No American game bird is more highly prized by shooters than the 

 woodcock. Dr. Coues observes: 'This is the game bird after all, say what you 

 please of snipe, quail or goose;' and Gurdon Trumbull adds, 'Yes, Doctor, either 

 in the field or on toast.'" 



It is easily distinguished from the other game birds. "The general color is a 

 rufous gray, effectively marked above with black; its head is larger than that 

 of the snipe or partridge (bob white), and its eyes are set well back and high to 

 enable it to see when boring in the mud with its long bill. The legs and bill 

 are of a gray flesh color; the bill is about two and three quarter inches long; 

 twice the length of the head." In extent of wings the woodcock will measure 

 about eighteen inches, and a full grown bird will weigh from seven and one half 

 to ten ounces according to its condition. 



While the general haunt of the woodcock is boggy and low-lying woodland, 

 he is often found in the hillside forests, and not infrequently at the summit of 

 the hill. 



The woodcock arrives on the St. Lawrence River usually about the first of 

 April, and many breed in its vicinity. In some places, however, where only 

 a few years ago they were numerous there is scarcely one to be found. There is a 



