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Capture Yesterdays\' Memories Title
American Woodcock on Nest, c1910, Pennsylvania
The front of this stereoview card features the number "72" at the top center. Along the left edge, vertically printed text reads: "Keystone View Company Manufacturers COPYRIGHTED Publishers MADE IN U. S. A." On the right edge, also vertically printed, are various office locations: "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Portland, Oregon, London, Eng., Sydney, Aus." Below the right image, the caption "7965 - Woodcock on Nest." is visible.
The back of the card, labeled "72 (7965)", provides extensive descriptive text titled "AMERICAN WOODCOCK ON NEST". It describes the woodcock's camouflage, appearance, nesting habits, and feeding behavior, noting its ability to move the tip of its bill to feel for worms. The text states, "Long before we ever knew the word 'camouflage' this favorite game bird was practicing it upon the hunter. As its nest is just a hollow in the leaves, the color of its feathers is its safety. This is a reddish or yellowish brown, spotted and striped with dark brown or black. Even the long, stick-like bill helps in its hiding among the branches. No troop ship was ever striped with paint to look more like the ocean waves than is this bird colored to look like the dead leaves as the sunshine and shadows fall upon them. If you should get so close to its nest that it must move to save being stepped upon, it plays that it is lame or has a broken wing. But it always keeps just out of reach as it flutters away. When it has coaxed you to a safe distance from its nest, it suddenly darts away. If its young are in danger it sometimes carries them between its feet. It lives largely on earthworms. These it gets by boring into the ground with its long bill. As it can only do this in soft ground it keeps near some marsh or stream; for a woodcock with a broken bill is the worst kind of a cripple. It is called the 'owl among snipes' because it gets its food at night. But it always leaves its tracks,—holes or 'borings' made with its bill. It can move the tip of the upper part of its bill almost like a finger in getting food. This is very sensitive; so it does not need owl's eyes, for it feels rather than looks for the worms. It goes only far enough south in winter to keep away from frozen ground." The text also includes geographical coordinates: "Lat. 42° N.; Long. 80° W." At the bottom right, it is noted: "Copyright by The Keystone View Company". No handwritten message is present on this stereoview card; the back contains only printed descriptive text.
The image itself is a close-up view of an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) expertly camouflaged on its nest amidst dry leaves, twigs, and sparse ground vegetation. The bird's mottled brown and black plumage blends almost perfectly with its surroundings, making it incredibly difficult to distinguish from the forest floor. Only a keen eye can spot its form and a glimpse of its eye. This stereoview serves as an educational piece, illustrating the natural defense mechanism of camouflage in wildlife. Given the publisher's activity and the style of the card, this stereoview likely dates from the 1910s.
PUBLISHER: Keystone View Company Shipping
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About This Item
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