Annual report . efflcient protection if it is to escapethe fate of the Heath hen, Wild turkey, andPassenger pigeon. Woodcock begin to breed from the ist tothe I oth of April, and the eggs are almost alwayslaid before the 2 5 th of that month. D uring themating season and until the period of incu-bation is nearly finished, the cock performshis peculiar song and aerial evolutions duringthe early evening and often in the from the ground, he ascends in aspiral course, whistling or chippering or pipingas he mounts in the air until a considerablehight is reached when he sweeps abou
Annual report . efflcient protection if it is to escapethe fate of the Heath hen, Wild turkey, andPassenger pigeon. Woodcock begin to breed from the ist tothe I oth of April, and the eggs are almost alwayslaid before the 2 5 th of that month. D uring themating season and until the period of incu-bation is nearly finished, the cock performshis peculiar song and aerial evolutions duringthe early evening and often in the from the ground, he ascends in aspiral course, whistling or chippering or pipingas he mounts in the air until a considerablehight is reached when he sweeps about inwide circles and descends again, uttering allthe while a mellow and rapidly increasingchipper, or warble, until the ground is reached, when he lowers his head andcocks his tail and utters a harsh, nasal peenk, or blaik, accompanied with anuncouth waving motion of the body. Then he looks about expectantlyand if his mate does not appear, the serenade is repeated, often as late as9 or 10 oclock in the Nest and eggs of woodcock. (From Bird-Lore). Photo by Tabor 300 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM The Woodcock lays her eggs where there is a slight elevation of groundin the swamp, or in the midst of the woods. I have found the nest inOntario count\ in dr}^ oak and pine woods on hilltops at an elevation of2000 feet, but usually the lowland woods are preferred. There is slightattempt at nest-building, the eggs being laid on the dr}- leaves, or a fewdried grasses and bits of leaves drawn together for a bed. The}^ are fourin number, ovate in shape, of a buffy color spotted with reddish brown andpurplish gray, and average x inches in dimensions. The youngare covered with a rusty buif-colored down, marked above with deep chest-nut, and follow their mother soon after hatching. Within two weeks theyare able to fly a short distance, but usually escape their enemies by lyingabsolutely still among the brush and leaves. The old bird is deeply attachedto her young and when they are
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectscience, bookyear1902
