A FRW REMARKS ON THE WOODCOCK. 79 



I found these birds, and was at length highly gratified, whilst peeping over 

 a banlv, in seeing one taking up the leaves separately and passing them, quick 

 as thought, through its beak; thus clearing off the small insects that adhered 

 to both sides. We have had, that I ara acquainted with, two nests near 

 here — one, many years since, at Saltram; and the other, more recently, near 

 Callington, Cornwall In the former, five young I believe were reared, one 

 of vvhich, in scarcely a fledged state, is now preserved in the Museum of the 

 Earl of Morley, and is a striking bird to the eye of a naturalist, though 

 placed near a Fork-tailed Kite and many other rarities, shot by the noble 

 Lord on his estates. The latter I am informed was made on an old moss-grown 

 alder-stump, a few dead leaves being the only preparation; it contained four 

 eggs, one of which is now in the collection of the Rev. C. Bulteel. 



My father informs me a bird of this species, which had been pinioned, was 

 kept alive for several years at Widey Court, about three miles from this 

 town; it suffered, however, severely in dry summers, and was only sustained 

 by strips of raw meat, placed in a pan with mud. At other times it man- 

 aged to shift for itself pretty well. 



A most singular formation in the Woodcock is the backward position of 

 its eyes. Here we again perceive the beautiful interposition of the Creator; 

 for were they more forward, as in other birds, no doubt the mud and dirt 

 would be continually getting in them, and thus incapacitate it from thrusting 

 its beak so deep in soft places consistent with its habit, which may be seen 

 from the "borings" visible in the place where it has fed, and the dirt on the 

 base of the mandibles and forehead. 



The Snipes, which feed in like manner, have this peeub'arity, whereas 

 Godwits, Curlews, and Sandpipers, which take their food on the surface, do 

 not require it. This formation, however, enables it to see but imperfectly 

 directly before it. This season one flew against my breast; and last year another 

 was observed by a friend of mine to knock itself down against a house, and 

 when he came to the spot it was perfectly dead. I have heard my father 

 relate an incident of one flying against a marker, whom he had stationed in 

 a tree, and striking him so severely on the cheek as to draw blood. In 

 brushwood, or wherever the trees are very thick, the sportsman invariably finds 

 it rise upwards, to preserve itself from coming in contact with the twigs 

 and branches. In other situations its sight is keen. The irides are hazel, 

 like those of the Nightjar; probably peculiarly adapted for the twilight, during 

 which time the former obtains the bulk of his sustenance, and the latter wholly. 

 These, however, fade in both instances shortly after death. 



Can any naturalists yet discern any marks of distinction on the plumage 

 between the sexes? I once considered the outward web of the first primary 

 being plain instead of spotted as a certain mark of a male; this, however, I 

 have proved by dissection in several instances to be erroneous. I conclude the 

 brighter redness of the plumage, and the distinctness of the bars on the occiput 

 more to be depended upon, and also that the female is usually larger, 

 vol,. IV. M 



