. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. AllElUCAN WOODCOCK. to November 1. that they are really in evi- dence. During the open season they are much sought by gunners,—which is the reason why there is now only one bird where f(.)rmerly there were ten. The American Woodcock' is the oddest- looking land-bird in Xorth America. Its legs are too short for so large a body, its tail is only half as long as it should be, its neck is too short and too thick, and its head is entirely out of drawing. The eyes are placed too
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. AllElUCAN WOODCOCK. to November 1. that they are really in evi- dence. During the open season they are much sought by gunners,—which is the reason why there is now only one bird where f(.)rmerly there were ten. The American Woodcock' is the oddest- looking land-bird in Xorth America. Its legs are too short for so large a body, its tail is only half as long as it should be, its neck is too short and too thick, and its head is entirely out of drawing. The eyes are placed too far back, and the bill is too long and too straight. In appearance, the \\'oodcock looks like an avian caricature. But, odd or not, this bird is very dear to the heart of the great American sp(.>rtsman, and its plump brown body is a genuine delicac)'. It has a long array of local names, some of which are so uncouth that the less said concerning them the better. The long, sensitive beak of this liird is reallv a probe and a pair of forceps combined, for probing in soft, earth or mud after earthworms, and dragging them out when found. In order to feed, the Woodcock has no option but to fre- ciuent the moist banks of wooded streams, or wet grounds in the shelter of bushes or timber, where it can work unobserved. During the day, it lies low to escape observation, and does the most of its feeding at night. It is seldom found in open ground, and Woodcock shooting is much like shooting quail among brush—quick and difficult. ' Plii-lii-lif'la mi'nor. Average length, about inches. This bird ranges throughout the United States from the Atlantic coast to the edge of the Great Plains. In the course of much hunting in cen- tral Iowa I never but once shot a specimen of this species. As a highly esteemed game-bird, Wilson's Snipe, or the .Taclv Snipe,'-' is a close second to the woodcock. Like the latter, it has a long, straight bill with a sensitive tip, with which to probe dow
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