
In addition to the 102 birds which could be aged, there were an 
additional 82 captured during the summers of 1953, 1954, and 1955 which 
were sexed. Most of these were netted, but a few were taken in blind 
butterfly-shaped traps or in cloverleaf funnel traps. Eight of these 
birds were caught in funnel traps in 1955 and aged. One was an adult 
male, a return on a bird caught in the spring; three were juvenal 
meles; three were adult females; and one was a juvenal female. 
The sex composition of all other summer-caught birds which were 
not aged was 50 males and 2); females or a sex ratio of 100 males to 8 
females. 
In considering sex ratio, it is difficult to be sure how to inter- 
pret the summer birds, due to the virtual absence of adult males. The 
sex composition of the known juveniles, which is 168 males to 100 females, 
is in great contrast to the sex ratio reported in the literature for fall- 
shot birds. However, the nature of these summer flights, to be discussed 
in more detail below, may well be such that the sex ratio of the juveniles 
does not give a true picture of the over-all woodcock population, 
The adult hen-chick ratio is 1:2.44. Age studies of fall-shot wood- 
cocks have indicated a slight preponderance of adults in the hunterts 
bag. If sex ratio is even, the summer figures would give an adult-chick 
ratio of 2:2.4. Since most of these data come from July captured birds, 
the indication is that the chick mortality rate exceeds the adult 
mortality rate from mid-summer until the opening of the hunting season. 
Description of lighting areas.--The area where birds light in Pres- 
cott Peninsula (Area 1) is a small field about 1/), acre in size with a 
ground cover of low bush blueberries, scattered sweet fern, and a few 
clumps of oak and chestnut sprouts. There are a few open areas between 
the bushes which are the favorite lighting places. [It is the site of an 
old burn, and numerous dead logs and stumps litter the area. These pro- 
vide an ideal habitat for ants and numerous beetle larvae. The area is 
surrounded by a predominant growth of grey birch up to 20 feet high. 
Oak sprout growth is the next most abundant woody plant. . Scattered white 
pines up to 60 feet high are found at various distances back from the 
perimeter of the field. The ground is exceedingly dry and well drained. 
Within 100 yards are two old gravel pits which often contain moist or wet 
bottoms, and these are occasionally visited by the birds. The field was 
used by one singing male during the spring. He was captured and banded 
in April, but never netted during the summer, 
Area 2 on the south side of Quabbin Reservoir is simost 2 acres in 
Size. Part of it is an abandoned field with low bush blueberries and 
scattered white pines. The favorite lighting area is a bare area of 
about an acre. Several years ago machines scraped all the topsoil off 
the area. Vegetation is sparse and the soil rocky. Numerous ant holes 
are scattered in the area, but the habitat is not nearly as favorable 
for insect life as Area 1. The fringe of the area on one side is a red 
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