176 UlllU (iALLEKY. 



I 



No. 106. WOODCOCK. (Scolopax lusticula.) 



Tliougli generally known as a migrant, wliicli arrives in October and 

 returns northwards iu IMarcli, many AVoodcocks remain to breed 

 throughout the British Islands. The I'ood eousists chiefly of insects 

 tiud -worms, esi)ecially the latter, of which enormous numbers are eaten. 

 A rounded depression in the ground, lined with withered gi'ass and 

 dead leaves, serves as a nest and is situated in some sheltered spot. 

 The four eggs are ercamy-bufl', blotched and spotted with grey and 

 I'eddish-brown. 



The Woodcock lias often been observed on the wing carrying its 

 young; the nestling is held close to the breast with the aid of the legs 

 and bill. 



The four young birds, which were on the [)oint of hatciiing, were 

 extracted from the eggs exhibited in the Case. 



luverness-sliiie, J une. 



Presented by Luril Local. 



No. 107. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, ( Liuiosu limosa.) 



This species used to breed in the fens of Lincolnshire and Cambridge- 

 shire, and eggs have been taken in Norfolk as recently as 1817. It 

 has now ceased to nest in Enghind, and is only oijserved on the spring 

 and autumn migrations and occasionally in winter. The nest, a slightly- 

 lined hollow amongst coarse herbage, contains four eggs of a pale olive- 

 green colour, spotted with brown. 



Europe, June. 

 Presented Iiy J. Stares c\- E. V. Earle, Esijrs. 



No. 108. SNIPE. (Galliiiago galliiiago.) 



A common species in all marshy localities thronghout the British 

 Islands, espeeudly in Scotland and Ireland, but most numerous during 

 the colder months of the year, when immense "flights" arrive from the 

 Continent and often remain till Marcli. In fi'osty w eather it frequently 

 shifts its quarters in searcii of open ground, where insects, worms, and 

 molluscs may still be obtained. The nest, a mere depression in tlic 

 ground, slightly lined with dead grass, is generally situated amongst 

 rushes, grass, or heather. The eggs, usually four in number, are 



