eck to breast whitish, ending in light streaks on breast; the
smallest heron; carries neck curved in flight; squawking note, "scow."
*Least Bittern.

139. SORA. 8-1/2 in.
(Porzana carolina. 214.)

Olive-brown with lengthwise markings of black and some white; short tail
turned up, showing buffy white underside; sides _barred_ posteriorily
with white; front of head and _throat, black_; slaty line over eye; sides
of neck and breast, grayish slate; bill _short and yellowish_; legs long.
Young: No black; throat whitish and brown on breast; very stealthy;
skulks and crouches in grass.

140. AMERICAN COOT. 15 in.
(Fulica americana. 221.)

Smooth blackish slate color, lighter below and black on head and neck;
white bill shows _dark marks near the tip_; turned up tail; white
underneath; wing edged with white; eye red; young show white below and no
marks on bill; toes with scalloped edges. May be mistaken for a small
duck.

141. AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 10-1/2 in.
(Philohela minor. 228.)

Black, mixed black and rusty slate; below reddish-brown, no markings;
_large_ head with short neck and _very long straight bill_; eye set _high
up and far back_; crown barred crosswise with black and rusty; short
tail; burrows in soft mud for earthworms; nocturnal.

142. SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER. 6 in.
(Ereunetes pusillus. 246.)

Grayish-brown, marked with black and buffy; rump very dark; tail
tapering; underparts _pure white_, slightly tinged and streaked across
breast; white line over eye and dusky line beneath; note, "peep-peep."
*Other Sandpipers.

143. SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 8-1/2 in.
(Helodromas solitarius. 256.)

Back, dusky olive-brown, _finely spotted with white_; crown and back of
neck showing dark streaks; white below, throat unmarked; sides of head
and neck with breast slightly buffy and _distinctly streaked_; sides
lightly barred; wings dark brown with one narrow white wing-bar; middle
of tail very dark; outer feathers _white, barred with black_; note, a
soft whistle. *Spotted Sandpiper.

144. SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 7-1/2 in.
(Actitis macularia. 263.)

Greenish-ash marked lightly with black; _long white line over eye_; pure
white below everywhere with dark roun