AMERICAN SNIPE. A469 
The Woodcock, during the breeding season, frequentsdense woods, and 
swampy thickets, more rarely high woods, even hill sides, but in this 
case in the vicinity of water. After the breeding season they are often 
found in more open wet places, especially at night, for their habits are 
quite nocturnal. Corn-fields, pastures and commons with a rich loamy 
soil are favorite places of resort after sunset. 
When disturbed from the nest or the young are endangered, the parent 
exhibits remarkable sagacity in attracting attention to herself and from 
the objects of her affection, and feigns lameness in limb and wing, often 
leading the observer to a hopeless and comical pursuit. 
The nest of the Woodcock is placed upon the ground, at the root of a 
tree, in a clump of weeds, or without any attempt at concealment, in re- 
tired woodland. It composed of a few dead leaves. The eggs are four in 
number, light grayish-brown with brownish blotches and shading; they 
measure 1.50 by 1.15. 
Gunus GALLINAGO, Leach: 
Bill much ionger than the head, straight, soft to the end where it issomewhat widened 
and grooved on top; gape short and narrow; ear under eye; tibix feathered nearly te 
the joint; tarsus a little shorter than the middle toe and claw; tces unwebbed. 
GALLINAGO WILSONI (Temm.) Bp. 
American Snipe: Wilson’s Snipe. 
Scolopax wilsonii, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 165. 
Gallinago wilsonti, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 368; Reprint, 1&61, 10; Food of 
Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 572; Reprint, 1875, 12.—Lana@pon, Summer 
Birds, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist, iii, 1880, 226. 
Gallinago wilsoni, LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 14; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. 
Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 182; Reprint, 16. 
Snipe, CHUBB, Forest and Stream, xiv, 1880, 307. 
Scolopax wilsoni, TEMMINCK, P]. Color., v, livr. Ixviii. 
Gallinago wilsonit, BONAPARTE, Comp. List, 1838, 52. 
Crown black with a pale middle stripe; back varied with black, bright bay and 
tawny, the latter forming two lengthwise stripes on the scapulars; neck and breast 
speckled with brown and dusky; lining of wings barred with black and white; tail, 
usually of 16 feathers, barred with black, white and chestnut; sides waved with dusky ; 
belly dull white; quills blackish, the outer white-edged. Length, 9-11; wing, 44-54; 
bill, about 24; whole naked portion of leg and foot, about 3. 
Habitat, the whole of North America, and southward to South America. Mexice. 
West Indies. Breeds from Northern New England northward. 
Abundant spring and fall migrant in March, April and often in May, 
September, October. Occasional summer resident in Northern Ohio, 
though no authentic instances of its breeding have been recorded. 
This well-known game bird is a regular migrant, often in great num- 
