( Continued) Gallinago wilsoni. 1890, Maine Oct. 8, L. Umbagog; - Where the mud was softer the bill was thrust in deeper but rarely to its base, excepting at one period when the bird waded out into the water up to its belly and probed for a several minutes immersing the entire bill as well as the head up to the eyes at each thrust and sometimes plunging the whole head under the surface. These deep thrusts were performed more slowly and often with marked deliberation the bill at times being kept in the mud for a full second or two, sometimes motionless, some- times working slightly up and down or from side to side . When boring in soft mud the bird usually inserted its bill with the mandibles from I/8 to I/4 of an inch apart at the tip always closing it at the completion of the thrust and sometimes, when it held it in the mud for a little while, closing and opening it several times in succession with a champing motion. It found an abundance of food . In fact at every third or fourth thrust on the average, it drew up something which it worked up quickly into to the mouth and at once swallowed. Twice I saw distinctly a small worm ( not an earthworm) about I/4 of an inch long wriggling and wrapping itself about the end of the bird's bill but usually I could make out nothing beyond the working motion of the bill and the evident act of swallowing. I was quite at a loss to under- stand how the object was transferred from the tip of the long bill by which it was certainly seized, back to the mouth, for the bill was never raised but was invariably held inclining decidedly down- ward during the operation.