184 
PRflECOCIAL G-RALLATORES — LIMICOL/E. 
quills very narrow ; tail short ; legs moderate ; eyes inserted unusually distant from the hill. Adult : 
Occiput with three transverse bands of black, alternating with three much narrower ones of pale 
yellowish rufous ; upper parts of body variegated with pale ashy, rufous, or yellowish red of various 
shades, and black ; large space on front and throat reddish ashy ; line from the eye to the bill, and 
another on the neck below the eye, brownish black ; entire under parts pale grayish rufous, 
brighter on the sides and under wing-coverts. Quills ashy brown ; tail feathers brownish black, 
tipped with ashy, darker on the upper surface, paler and frequently white on the under ; bill light 
brown, paler and yellowish at base ; legs pale reddish. 
Downy young : General color light reddish buff or isabella-color, uniform on the lower surface. 
Line from bill to eye, a large, somewhat elliptical patch covering forehead and fore part of the 
crown, a patch on the occiput (connected with that on the crown by a narrow isthmus), and a 
narrow mark behind the eye with an oblique one below it, very dark chestnut ; broad stripe down 
the rump, also dark chestnut ; stripe down the nape, and various large blotches on the back, wings, 
etc., rather light snuff-brown. 
Total length about 11 inches; wing, 4.80-5.70; tail, 2.25; bill, 2.50 to nearly 3.00 ; tarsus, 
1.25 ; middle toe, 1.37. 
The American Woodcock — one of the best known and most popular of our game- 
birds — is found throughout the eastern portion of the continent, from Florida to the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence on the northeast, and from the Atlantic to Nebraska. It is, 
however, rare west of the Mississippi. It is abundant at Hamilton, and probably 
occurs throughout Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Mr. Boardman in- 
forms us that it is very common in the vicinity of Calais, where it breeds abund- 
antly, and that it lias been known to nest as far north as the river and the banks of 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It breeds in these places in April, even when the ground 
is still covered with snow. A single specimen has been taken in Bermuda. 
On Long Island, according to Giraud, the Woodcock arrives early in March, and 
begins to build its nest, about the beginning of April, of withered leaves and dry 
grasses in a very inartistic manner. The eggs are usually four, occasionally five, 
in number. It is, however, probable that the Woodcock, in favorable seasons, arrives 
and breeds somewhat earlier on Long Island, as this bird occasionally occurs in Massa- 
chusetts in February, and breeds in March. It remains in sheltered localities until 
quite late in the autumn ; and, near Jamaica, L. I., in wet and springy places, a few 
have been seen in the months of December and January. 
In its habits the Woodcock is nocturnal. It never flies voluntarily by day, but 
only when forced from its retreats, usually keeping in close and sheltered thickets, and 
resorting at twilight to its favorite feeding-places. It feeds almost exclusively dur- 
ing the night, as its sight is very imperfect by day. Its eye is remarkably large and 
handsome, but unfit to bear the glare of the sun, its full and almost amaurotic appear- 
