1890 
May 9 . 
Waver ley, Mass. 
(LETTER CE WALTER FAXON.) — Many thanks for your kindness in 
having the Woodcock story copied for me. My observations tally 
exactly with yours, except that the pt-ul was repeated without any 
alternating pa-a-p; that is, when I took position within eight 
yards of where he came down, he peeped until he (evidently) saw or 
heard me, and then said put -1 till he flew away to more removed 
ground, where he resumed peeping and soon made another ascent. I 
felt assured that the put '1 was a sort of alarm-note, and not a 
normal part of his serenade. I am positive that he did not put * 1 
atvOther times, when I was so near to him that I coiild not have 
missed the note, if uttered. Every time I saw the performance, 
the bird in his adeent described a sinistral spiral. The only 
evenings when I was sure of the direction of the wind and could 
clearly see the bird as he sprung from the ground( two eve nings ) 
he ros e against the wind. 7 AS I told you, each time he uttered 
the put~*T there was a marked movement of the body, apparently, a 
throwing back of the head and neck. 
After the Woodcock attains his maxirnun hight, he appears to 
fly irregularly about for a time without making circles. The music 
of the song is much enhanced to my ear by the whistle of the wings 
which is heard in the short intervals between the vocal outbursts. 
You may be interested in some of my time minutes with your 
own : — 
April 17. Began to peep, 6.50,p.m. Ceased at 7.20(sunset, 
6.28). About ten ascensions. 
Peeped, 40s. 
Flight, 45 s. 
Peeped, 2m , 10s . 
Flight, 50 
Peeped, 40 s. 
Flight, 50 s. 
Song last I OS 
Peeped, Im. 25 s. 
Flight, 45s. 
I timed him by the second hand of my watch, and the measure- 
ment is not so accurate as you would get with a stop-watch. The 
duration of the "song", to speak more precisely, was the time 
from the beginning of the vocal notes to the birds reach ing t he 
ground . 
