THE WOODCOCK. 
221 
The Snipe is familiar only as a transient visitor 
during Spring and Autumn, its summer haunts being 
among the cold countries of the north, where it 
raises its brood and returns to pass the Winter in the 
south. 
The Woodcock is a summer resident in the North- 
ern, Eastern, and Middle States, where it is a very 
abundant species, frequenting the low grounds and 
swampy woods of almost every neighborhood. This 
fact would perhaps be disputed by some in conse- 
quence of their not being aware that the habits of 
the bird are nocturnal, and would not therefore meet 
the eye of most, unless accidentally disturbed. The 
early twilight is the signal for the Woodcocks to re- 
tire to their cover, and the approach of dusk to sally 
forth in quest of food \ this consists of earth-worms, 
which they obtain by probing the soft mire with their 
bills, through which they appear to suck them up 
without withdrawing their bills from the mud, in the 
manner of the Curlews and some other water birds. 
They will sometimes resort to the woodland and 
scratch among the dry leaves for the worms which 
are often secreted there ; but this probably is only 
during hot weather, when the marshy places are 
partly dry, and the supply of food less abundant. 
Neither in respect to form nor general appearance 
can the Woodcock lay claim to beauty or grace. The 
markings of its plumage are indeed very delicate, 
but the contrasts of color are less pleasing than in 
many of its associates. The head, which is rather a 
shapeless affair, has the appearance of being a con- 
19 * 
