THE WOOD-COCKS. 20^ 



of migration. 1 remember an interesting instance of Wood- 

 cock-shooting before breakfnst, when Mr. Seebohm, Mr. Frank 

 Nicholson, and myself started off for a walk among the slippery 

 debris of rock which lies scattered round the base of Heligoland, 

 when the tide is out. We threw stones into every likely-looking 

 chasm in the rock, and were rewarded by seeing several Wood- 

 cock fly out from their concealment, and sail out sea-wards with 

 an owl-like flight. In this way we procured several in the early 

 morning. 



Mr. Howard Saunders writes : — " During the day the Wood- 

 cock rests in dry grassy, bottoms, or beneath thick bushes, such 

 as holly or laurel, but at dusk and early in the morning, especially 

 during the breeding-time, the male persistently follows certain 

 tracts along glades in woods — often called 'cock roads ' — 

 uttering a deep as well as a whistling note. Similar routes are 

 also traversed by both sexes on their way to and from their 

 feeding-grounds. Worms, when procurable, are devoured in 

 almost incredible quantities, while beetles and other insects, 

 small crustaceans, and even mussels are also eaten ; and I 

 have watched a bird obtaining its food under circumstances 

 which, if narrated, would not conduce to a taste for ' trail.' Few 

 birds exceed 15 ounces in weight, though such are on record." 



During the day, says Mr. Seebohm, the Wood-cock fre- 

 quents the outskirts of woods and forests where there is 

 plenty of cover under which it can lie concealed. In the 

 evening it seeks the marshes to feed, but even under the 

 protection of the shades of twilight it is still very cautious 

 in exposing itself to view, and prefers swampy ground, either 

 in the forest or in open places abounding with brushwood and 

 rank vegetation. In its winter quarters, in India, it is described 

 as avoiding stagnant swamps, and only frequenting those where 

 running water is to be found. When disturbed during the day it 

 rises with a whirring sound, occasionally, but not always, utter- 

 ing a cry which resembles that of the Common Snipe, which 

 may be represented by the syllable skaych. When fairly on 

 the wing, its fliglit is much slower than that of the Common 

 Snipe. The bill is always pointed considerably downwards, as 

 though it were too heavy to be held out straight ; the wings are 

 bent, and the general direction of the flight is straight, but oc- 

 casionally it is varied with curious twists and twinings. The 



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