clxxxvi 
ScoLOPACiDiE. BIRDS. ScoLOPACiDa:. 
near an old trunk, perhaps, formed of a few withered 
leaves and stalks of grass. Tlie eggs are four, some- 
times five, about an inch and a half long. It is 
bluntly rounded — very different from those of the 
other members of the family. 'I’he Woodcock is 
properly a nocturnal bird, feeding at night mostly. 
At such times, as well as in early morning, he rises, 
by a kind of spiral course, to a considerable height 
in the air, uttering at times a sudden quack, till, 
having gained his utmost height, he hovers around 
in a wild, irregular manner, making a sort of mur- 
muring sound, then descends rapidly as he rose. 
When uttering his common note on the ground, 
he seems to do it with difficulty, throwing his 
head towards the earth, and frequently jetting up 
his tail. These notes and manoeuvres are most usual 
in spring, and are the call of the male to his favorite 
mate. The flesh is, as is generally known, highly 
esteemed. In general figure and manners this bird 
resembles the European species, but it is consid- 
erably less in size, and is differently marked. It 
also has the first three quills of the wing very narrow 
and scythe-shaped. 
AMERICAN SNIPE [Gallinago wilsoni). — This 
bird inhabits the whole continent, and a j)ortion of 
the southern. It is sometimes called Wilson’s 
Snipe, and also English Snipe. The latter term is 
entirely a misnomer, as the species is different from 
that of Europe. Jack Snipe is another unnecessary 
ui)pellation that has become attached to this bird. 
IVilson says that this bird has the same soaring, 
irregular flight in the air, in gloomy weather, as the 
Snipe of Europe; the same bleating note and occa- 
sional rajjid descent; springs from the marshes with 
the same feeble squeak; and in every respect resem- 
bles the Gommon Snipe of Britain, except in being 
about an inch less, and in having sixteen feathers 
in the tail, instead of fourteen. The Snipe is 
eleven inches in length and seventeen inches in 
extent; the bill is more than two inches and a 
half long. 
REDBREASTED SNIPE {Macrorhamphvs griseus). 
— Galled also Gkay Snipe, Brown-back and Dow- 
iTCHER. Its habitat is the whole of North America 
and a jiortion of South America. It is also fre- 
quently seen in Europe. Its size is about that of 
Wilson’s; the bill is exactly like that of the latter. 
The distinguishing marks are a greater length of 
legs, a web between the outer and middle toes, by 
twelve instead of sixteen tail feathers, and various 
marks in coloration. The length is from ten and a 
quarter to twelve and a half; extent of wing, seven- 
teen and a half to twenty and a quarter. AVilson’s 
d(iscription is so good that we give it here: “It 
flies very rapidly, sometimes wheeling, coursing and 
doubling along the surface of the marshes ; then 
shooting high in the air; then separating and form- 
ing in various bodies, uttering a kind of quivering 
whistle. Ihiring its stay on the sea-coast of New 
Jersey, it flies in flocks, sometimes very high, and 
then has a loud and shrill whistle, making many 
evolutions over the marshes — forming, dividing and 
re-uniting. They sometimes settle in such numbers, 
and so close together, that eighty-five have been shot 
at one discharge of the musket. They spring from 
the marshes with a loud, twirling whistle, generally 
rising high, and making several circuitous manoeu- 
vres in air before they descend. 'J'hey frequent the 
mud-flats and sand-bars at low water, in search of 
food, and being less suspicious of a boat than of a 
person on shore, are easily approached.” Dr. Goues 
says of this species: “ They are gentle and unsus- 
picious creatures by nature, most sociably disposed 
to its own kind, as well as towards its relatives 
among the Ducks and AVaders. Being partly web- 
footed, they swim tolerably well for a little distance, 
in any emergency. On such occasions, they swim 
with a curious bobbing motion of the head and cor- 
responding jerking of the tail, to a hiding-place in 
the rank grass across the pool. 'I'lieir movements 
are graceful and their attitudes are beautifully statu- 
esque.” 
STILT SANDPIPER {Micropalnma himantopus ). — 
'I’his bird is found in North America generally, but 
not west of the Rocky Mountains. It is a rare bird, 
breeding in high latitudes. 
SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER {Ereuneiespusillas). 
— The habitat of this species is the whole northern 
and a portion of the southern continent. It is abun- 
dant and well known on our Atlantic shores. It is 
one of the smallest of its tribe. Though properly a 
sea-shore bird, it is seen at times on the borders of 
the inland lakes and rivers. Its length is six inches, 
and extent of wing twelve. 'The bill is black, an 
inch in length, and very slightly bent. 'I'lie males 
and females are alike in color. 
LEAST SANDPIPER {Tringa minutilla). — 'V\\\s 
little bird is found in every j)art of the western con- 
tinent and the adjacent islands, and is occasionally 
seen in Europe, and is universally known as “ Peep.” 
AVilson says of it : “ It is migratory, departing early 
in October for the South. It resides chiefly among 
the sea-marshes, and feeds among the mud at low 
water; springs with an irregular flight and a feeble 
twit. It is not altogether confined to the neighbor- 
hood of the sea, for I have found several of them on 
the shores of the Schuylkill, in the month of August.” 
Its length is five inches and a half; extent of wing, 
eleven inches. 
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER (rWnya JajVJi).—'rhis bird 
has only lately been recognized. Specimens were 
found in Arctic America and in Alaska, where it 
breeds. It is found in the interior of North Amer- 
ica, east of the Rocky Aloun tains. It has been con- 
sidered as a stranger to the Atlantic Goast, though 
one specimen has been captured there recently. Dr. 
Goues met with it in Dakota, in August, associated 
with the Redbreasted Snipe and AAHIson’s Phalarope. 
PECTORAL SANDPIPER [Tringa maculata). — Tliis 
well-known bird is common to the whole continent, 
and is also found in Europe, and is called Jack Snipe 
and Grass Snipe in all places. It is game-like in 
habits, and, consequently, in request for the sports- 
man. Dr. Goues says it is a very abundant bird in 
summer in Labrador, where it frequents low, muddy 
flats. AAnien they arise from the grass to alight 
