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grass or even on the bare ground. 

 The eggs, four in number, are buff 

 spotted and speckled with light and 

 dark brown. 



Notes. — This bird is rather common 

 and is frequently seen along the edges 

 of canals, around ponds, and along the 

 smaller streams. 



WOODCOCK. 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA L. 



Description. — Length fourteen 

 inches. 



" Bill pale reddish-brown, grey at the 

 base, dark brown towards the tip, the 

 tip itself dusky ; it is about three inches 

 long. Iris dark brown, large, prominent, 

 and placed high up and far back on the 

 head." Legs short and dark grey. 



Top of the head flat, greyish brown 

 in color. Neck and back a mixtux'e of 

 several shades of brown, or yellowish 

 with zigzag bars and black streaks. 

 The wings are reddish brown, variously 

 ringed or spotted with darker. Throat 

 and breast yellowish brown barred with 

 darker. 



Distribution. — Europe, Asia, and 

 North Africa. Common winter visitant 

 in the Yangtse Valley. 



Notes. — This bird is more common 

 through the winter in South and 

 Central China than in the north. It 

 feeds on worms, insect larvae, and 

 insects, boring for them with its long 

 bill. 



The colors of the Woodcock which 

 comprise brown, yellow, rufous, black, 

 ■white and grey, harmonize well with 

 the cover under which the bird lies. 

 When flushed, it makes a most 

 erratic flight, often returning to a spot 



