SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — PHILOIIELA. 185 



ance plainly suggesting the crepuscular habits of the bird. During the greater portion 

 of the (lay the Woodcock remains closely concealed in marshy thickets or in rank 

 grass ; in the early morning or evening, and also on moonlight nights, it seeks its 

 food in open places, but during the day-time in dark and dense coverts. 



The favorite places of resort of this species are low marshy grounds, swamps, and 

 meadows with soft bottoms. During very wet seasons it seeks higher land — most 

 generally corn-fields — and searches for food in the soft ploughed ground, where its 

 presence is indicated by the holes made by its bill. In seasons of excessive drought 

 the Woodcock resorts in large numbers to tide-water creeks and the banks of fresh- 

 water rivers ; but so averse is it to an excess of water, that after continued or very 

 heavy rains it has been known suddenly to disappear over widely extended tracts of 

 country. 



In October and November this bird forsakes its usual feeding-grounds, and resorts 

 to tall swampy woods, small streams overgrown with bushes, and newly cleared lands. 

 Its favorite food consists of larvse, insects, and, more especially, worms. As the 

 approach of cold weather drives the latter deeper into the ground, the Woodcock 

 resorts to woods and brush-lands, where it gleans a subsistence on insects concealed 

 under the leaves. That is considered by sportsmen as the most favorable season in 

 which to shoot this bird, as it is then larger, fatter, and more free from vermin than 

 at any other time. The best sportsmen contend that the Woodcock should not be 

 shot until the last of September or the first of October, and regard its destruction, 

 when of imperfect flight, as both barbarous in itself, and certain to render the race 

 extinct — at least over portions of the country. 



The food of this species consists chiefly of worms, and also of several kinds of 

 larvse, which it finds under leaves and the debris of swampy woods and open bogs. 

 The extreme portion of its bill is well supplied with nerves, and is so extremely sen- 

 sitive to the touch, that by it the presence of worms in the soft earth at a depth of 

 three inches is readily detected. This is a very voracious bird, and when kept in 

 confinement requires constant attention and a large supply of food. It soon 

 discovers and draws out every worm in the ground ; and such as are provided for it 

 are consumed in incredible quantities. It can in time be induced to feed on bread 

 and milk, of which it will also consume an enormous quantity in twenty-four 

 hours. The voracity of this species is evidently one of the occasions of its unsocial 

 character. 



For the table the Woodcock is highly esteemed by epicures, and ahvays commands 

 a high price in the markets of our large cities. It is particularly sought for during 

 the early part of the season, although birds taken at that time are much inferior in 

 many respects to those procured later in autumn. 



The flight of this species is very peculiar. When flushed in its retreats it rises 

 to the height of the bushes or undergrowth, and quickly drops behind them again ; 

 usually running a short distance as soon as it touclies the ground. Very little force 

 is required to kill it, but as it presents itself as a mark only for a moment, no other 

 than a practised sportsman will be successful. As it rises, the action of its wings 

 causes a whistling sound. When found in open meadow-land, however, it is com- 

 paratively easily shot, as it always gives warning l)y this whistling sound of its 

 wings, and seldom rises higher than a man's head, skimming over the ground, with 

 a slow and steady flight, to a short distance, when it settles again in the grass. 

 But among bushes and thickets its course is at first indirect and unsteady, and unlike 

 the flight of any other game. Springing rapidly from the ground, it rises perpen- 

 dicularly until it clears the tops of the trees or bushes : its flight then becomes 



VOL. I. — 24 



