58 
Philohela minor. 
1876. 
Middlosex County, Mass, 
(May 3)1 
that we vrare sitting there I noticed noticed that she 
did not once wink. For a moinent a stray beam from the 
setting sun found its vraj through a rent in the clouds 
and lighted up the quiet little woodland nook, lending an 
additional lustre' to the bird*s dark eye and deepening 
the brovm tints of her marble plumage. The merry peep 
of the hylas came up from the neighboring sv/amp, and a 
Robin burst into song from the top of a neighboring pine 
but still the Woodcock stirred not. At length, cautious¬ 
ly extending my hand, I actually touched her tail with 
my fingerstips, then her back, s+roking the feathers gent¬ 
ly. Finally pressing dov/n a little so that she felt 
the v^eight of my hand she sprang with startling sudden¬ 
ness direetly from the nest, whistling loudly as she 
rose, then dropping to the ground tumbled about among the 
oak leaves uttering a complaining noise so deep and low 
that it sounded almost like a surpressed growl. I fol¬ 
lowed her a little way when she again rose and made off 
through the tree-tops. 
This nest was about fifty yards from a densely wood^xl 
run on high ground in a little opening surrounded by 
scattering hazeland alder bushes. It was rather more 
substantial than the nest which-I found last year and 
was composed outwardly of leaves and lined so thoroughly 
with dry grasses that the exterior material v;as entirely 
concealed. The hollow was rather shallow, the whole 
nest so small that the sitting bird covered it entirely. 
The eggs were four in number and the handsomest set that 
I evefi sees.have ever seen. This nest was found April 
28 when the /i|Q^t was complete. 
“ 23. 
Started a pair together in Concord but could find 
neither eggs nor young. They rose with a heavy whir- 
ing as loud as, and in every way similar to, that produc¬ 
ed by Ruffled Grouse. 
Sept.13. 
Started six in “Hall’s' Concord. 
“ 21. 
Pound several lately among birch and hazel cover on 
hillsides. 
“ 28. 
Started one in Birches (Concord). 
“ 29. 
V 
One among birches (Concord), 
Oct, 9, 
Started four (Concord), 
“ 11. 
Two (Concord), 
“ 12. 
Throe (Concord), 
“ 16. 
Started thirteen among birches in a limited area 
in Concord. The ground was covered v/ith about two 
inches of snow which fell yesterday and the whole country 
is said to have been swarming v/ith Woodcock to-day. But 
fev/ v/ore seen afterwards this season. 
