Philo chela minor. Maine (Lake Umbagog). 1881. May 13. My setter found and pointed a female as she sat on the nest. I nearly touched her back before she flew. She rose heavily without whistling, and dropped again within twenty feet. We had previously started a male about fifty yards away; he flew directly towards the nest and alighted within fifteen feet of it. When the female was flushed he also rose with a heavy flutter and dropping to the ground again simulated lameness. The locality was a thicket of mixed yellow spruces, birches, and willows with openings at frequent intervals, a favor- ite haunt of these birds in September when they lie con- cealed there among the tall ferns. The nest was on the top of a little mound partially protected from the wea- ther, and from observation, by the overhanging branch of a small spruce. The four eggs which it contained, lay in a deep saucer-shaped hollow lined with a few dry leaves; they looked fresh but I did not disturb them. " 14. Heard one singing a number of times this evening by the roadside near Peaslee's. (May 15). Visited the place where I heard the bird singing last evening. My setter found him in small, thinly- growing willows near the fence. Upon flushing him he simply topped the fence and alighted in a pool of water on the other side, standing in the usual attitude with- out showing any fear of us. He was calling last night in the open pasture inside the fence. He is an unusu- ally fine singer, his water-whistle notes being full and sweet. " 16. One sang several times this evening in the Abbott clearing. He was by far the finest singer I over heard, his water notes being of rare tone and sweetness and his song lasted nearly half a minute, each note ringing out clear and distinct above the rushing wind and splashing rain. " 19. For the past two years Woodcock have been numerous in the second growth about the Middle Dam; but last year three of their nests were broken up by cattle, and eighteen birds were killed there in September. This year not one has been either seen or heard in the vicini- ty.