THE WOODCOCK. 17S 



Thej now disperse themselves over the country to breed, 

 and indicate their presence in all directions by the marks 

 of their boring bills, which are seen in such soft and boggy 

 places as are usually sheltered by thickets and woods. They 

 ilso turn over the fallen leaves from side to side with their 

 bills in quest of lurking insects, but never scratch with their 

 fset, though so robust in their appearance. 



The sensibility possessed by the extremity of the bill, as 

 in the snipe, is of such an exquisite nature, that they are 

 enabled to collect their food by the mere touch, without 

 using their eyes, which are set at such a distance and eleva- 

 tion in the back part of the head, as to give the bird a 

 remarkable aspect of stupidity. "When flushed or surprised 

 in their hiding-places, they only rise in a hurried mannei 

 to the tops of the bushes, or glide through the undergrowth 

 to a short distance, when they instantly drop down again, 

 and run out for some space on touching the ground, lurking 

 as soon as they imagine themselves in a safe retreat. At 

 times, in open woods, they fly out straight with considera- 

 ble vigour and swiftness, but the effort, from the shortness 

 of the wing, is always attended with much muscular 

 exertion. 



Early in April, the Woodcocks in pairs select a spot for 

 breeding, which is generally in or near some retired part of 

 ths same woods which usually affords them their food and 

 ihelter. The nest is placed on the ground, in a tufb of 

 gmaBf or in the protectior of some old stump. It is formed 



