BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAI, SCIFNCFS 



523 



is to be found the second week in April. The eggs show con- 

 siderable variation in size and color. They measure from 1.47 

 by 1.12 to 1.65 by 1.22 inches, and are ''brownish clay color, 

 more buffy or more grayish, with numberless chocolate brown 

 surface markings and stone gray shell spots". I found my first 

 nest of the w r oodcock on high ground in what has since become 

 Forest L,awn Cemetery, Buffalo, on April 16th, 1864, on the edge 

 of a snowbank. The parent bird must have been killed by an 

 owl, as its feathers were lying near the nest. The eggs are still 

 to be seen in my collection and have well preserved their delicate 

 color. 



While snipe shooting on April 9th, 1901, my son Edward 

 found a woodcock nest with the female bird on her eggs. Hav- 

 ing heard of their very close setting, he crept up cautiously and 

 w 7 ith a short slender twig, moved the bird's bill up and down 

 until finally she flew from her nest. This contained three beau- 

 tiful eggs. The thought occurred to him that this was a chance 

 to secure a picture. Three days later he again visited the place 

 accompanied by William Wild, the artist, whose painting of 

 ruffed grouse, exhibited at the Albright Art Gallery had attracted 



