THE WOODCOCK 161 



of its most distant nesting grounds arc in Kashmir and 

 Japan, while it has been found breeding in the Himalayas 

 at the height of 10,000 feet. In the Faroe Islands it has 

 occurred as a passing visitor, and has also been recorded 

 from Spitzbergen. 



Description. — The sexes resemble each other, and there 

 is no marked nesting plumage. Forehead and crown 

 bro^^^^ish grey. Back of head crossed by four bars of 

 dark brown, divided by bands of buff. Lores marked by 

 narrow band of dark brown, and a band is also below 

 the eyes. Back of the neck brownish grey, with black 

 sides. Throat white, bounded by a brown and black 

 band. Wings and wing coverts chestnut, barred 

 conspicuously with black. Lowermost rows of minor 

 coverts, median and major coverts tipped with buff, 

 forming distinct transverse bars. Major coverts and 

 secondaries crossed by broad bands of black. Primaries 

 dark grey with white tips. Rump and tail coverts chest- 

 nut, barred with black. Tail feathers black, tipped 

 above with silver grey and below with white. Breast 

 and abdomen light brown, barred with narrow lines, 

 under tail coverts brown with markings of black. The 

 mature young cannot be distinguished from its parents. 



