182 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLJ:. 



much sought after by sportsmen. Their large size, their fine flavor, and the interest 

 attending their pursuit, combine to reader them attractive objects to the sportsman. 

 The winter visitors to the British Islands usually appear early in October, and re- 

 main there until March. It is said that they ahvay s arrive in the greatest numbers 

 in hazj^ Aveather. They perform their journeys at night ; and it is supposed that 

 those which appear in the northern counties of England have made their passage 

 from Xorway between sunset and sunrise. If the weather has been calm, the birds 

 exhibit no signs of fatigue on their arrival, and generally come in excellent condition. 

 They fly at a considerable altitude, and usually alight just at dawn of day. The first 

 flight which arrives usually consists exclusively of females ; the subsequent and 

 latest one of males. In evidence of the abundance of Woodcock in the eastern coun- 

 ties of England, Yarrell mentions that no less than one hundred and sixty of these 

 birds were shot on the estate of Lord Hastings, in Norfolk, in three days ; and 

 instances are on record where tAvo hundred of them have been killed in a single day 

 by one person. 



The Woodcock is of nocturnal habits, and reposes in the daytime, remaining hid in 

 dry grassy bottoms, in woods, or among brakes, never moving except when disturbed. 

 Toward night the bird goes by well-known tracks to its feeding-ground. These tracks, 

 or open glades in the woods, are known as " cock-shoots " and " cock-roads ; " and in 

 them nets were formerly suspended for the capture of the bird. The common earth- 

 worm is the food they most eagerly seek ; and in confinement they have been known 

 to consume them in almost incredible quantities. Their mode of feeding, as observed 

 in an aviary in Spain, is thus described by Daniel : " There was a fountain to keep 

 the ground moist, and fresh sod was brought to them, the richest in worms that could 

 be found. The Woodcock stuck its beak into the ground, but never higher than the 

 nostrils, drew the w^orms out singly, and, raising its bill in the air, it extended upon 

 it the whole length of the worm, and in this way swallowed it smoothly, without any 

 action of the jaws. The whole was performed in an instant, and the bird never once 

 missed its aim." 



A small proportion of these birds remain in England through the summer, and are 

 very early breeders. Yarrell states that the young are usually hatched by the end 

 of March or the beginning of April. On the 22d of April, 1838, Mr. Gould exhibited 

 to the Zoological Society two young Woodcocks apparently three weeks old. The 

 nests of this species, so far as known, consist wholly of dead leaves, chiefly of the 

 common fern, loosely laid together, and without any lining. The young run almost 

 from the shell. 



It appears to be a well-attested fact that the parent birds of this species, when 

 their young — if not old enough to take care of themselves — are in danger, will take 

 them in their claAvs and carry them to a place of safety. Yarrell cites several in- 

 stances in which this curious performance was witnessed. White, in his ''Natural 

 History of Selborne," discredits this statement ; but it appears to be so well attested 

 by so many trustworthy Avitnesses that it is unreasonable to doubt its correctness. 



The eggs of the Woodcock are said to be usually four in number. Their ground- 

 color is a pale yellowish white, blotched and spotted with ashy gray and two shades 

 of reddish yellow-brown ; these markings are most numerous around the larger end. 

 The eggs measure 1.75 inches in length by 1.33 inches in breadth. 



