


In contrast to the results in other years when less than 100 
birds were captured, the nets yielded a substantial sample of male 
adults. Inspection of Table 1 suggests the results may not be a 
valid reflection of the sex and age composition of a resident, popu- 
lation. It is possible that substantially more birds will have 
to be captured to represent a fair sample. There is no statisti- 
cally significant difference in the total over-all sex ratio, but 
there is. a significant difference between the number of male and _ 
female chicks. The reason for the definite majority of male chicks 
(66 percent) is not evident. Male adults may well be-less ‘inclined 
to make crepuscular forays after two months of intensive breeding 
activity which could account for the. larger number of female adults 
caught in summer netting. _ 
The over-all sex ratio of 353 birds captured and sexed in ¢ 
summer during packs years is (120 males: LOO females. 
In early July it was not unusual to see groups of three birds 
fly over ‘the field; and on one occasion, four birds in a group . 
were observed. It was almost as common .to see two birds together 
or following each other closely as a single bird. : It is “possible 
three or four groups of birds: early in.the summer comprise a single *. 
brood. On the night of July 3, eight chicks and two adult hens 
were captured in about 15 minutes at the MOC netting field. These 
results on the’ surface. suggest two broods, but these. captires came 
from each direction of the compass over a period of 15 minutes, and 
with one exception of two caught simultaneously, all were caught 
as single birds. Field observations of flushed broods indicate it 
is not unusual for four ee to flush together and light in almost 
the. same spot. 
It is my ‘tentative conclusion: that by the time juveniles attain 
sufficient growth. and strength to take pare in these evening ee E, 
the brood entity has broken or . 
Discussion. of reasons for evening flights.--After four years of 
observation of these evening flights, the total evidence indicates 
without much question these forays are dietary in nature, If un- 
disturbed, these birds will remain in a field often as long’as half 
an hour or possibly longer. One bird lit in the field, and after 
only eight minutes, was flushed into a net and immediately killed. 
His stomach was crammed with freshly eaten food items which included 
a caterpillar, two or more wireworms, remains of several beetles, 
beetle and diptera larvae and ants. . His gizzard contained the re- 
mains of one angleworm which must have been eaten elsewhere as these 
evening lighting grounds are very dry and hard and probing is not 
possible. Such insect items have on several occasions, been identi- 
fied in woodcock stomachs by other workers, but usually comprised :a 
‘minor percentage of the stomach contents. It has been'‘assumed that 
45 
