ksman to bring them down. They frequent boggy places
especially "runs" lined with alders, where they bore in the soft ground
for worms and grubs. Their eggs are laid upon the bare ground among the
leaves and sticks; they are of about the color of dead leaves, as is
also the bird, making it quite difficult to discover their nests. They
lay three or four eggs of a buffy color, with yellowish brown spots.
Size 1.50 x 1.15.

229. EUROPEAN SNIPE. _Gallinago gallinago_.

A common species in Europe; of casual or accidental appearance in
Greenland. The bird does not differ essentially from our Snipe and its
habits are the same.

[Illustration 142: Buffy gray.]
[Illustration: American Woodcock. Wilson's Snipe.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 141

[Illustration 143: C. A. Reed.
WOODCOCK ON HER NEST.]

Page 142

[Illustration 144: WOODCOCK.]

Page 143

WILSON SNIPE. _Gallinago delicata_.

Range.--North America, breeding from northern United States northward;
winters along the Gulf States and to California, and southward.

Another favorite game bird, but one which requires skill to hunt
successfully. Of about the same size as the Woodcock (11 inches long).
This species, to a great extent frequents the same haunts used by
Woodcock, but is especially fond of open marshy meadows, with winding
brooks. Their nests are depressions in grassy banks, generally unlined;
the three or four eggs have an olive gray color and are strongly marked
with blackish brown. Size 1.50 x 1.10. Data.--Lake Winnipegosis,
Manitoba, June 10, 1903. Nest in a hollow on a tuft of marsh grass, the
four eggs having their points together. Collector, Walter Raine.

230.1. GREATER SNIPE. _Gallinago media_.

A European species, only American as having accidentally occurred at
Hudson Bay; similar in appearance to the preceding species.

[Illustration 145: Olive gray.]
[Illustration: NEST AND EGGS OF WOODCOCK.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 144

231. DOWITCHER. _Macrorhamphus griseus_.

Range.--North America, most abundant in the eastern parts; breeds in the
extreme north, and winters from the Gulf States to Northern South
America.

This species is commonly known as "Red-breasted Snipe" in late spring
and summer because of the rich, rusty red coloration of the underparts,
and as "Gray-back" in winter because of its color at that season. They
are very common along the Atlantic coast during the Sprin