PLOVERS, GULLS, AND AUKS 77 



numbers as a breeding species in Great Britain, largely owing to 

 the increase of plantations ; but besides these home-bred birds, 

 large numbers arrive in this country from abroad in the month of 

 October. 



Few birds are so highly esteemed by gourmets, as is shown by 

 the old couplet : 



If the Partridge had but the Woodcock's thigh, 

 'Twould be the best bird that ever did fly. 



By some strange notion these birds are supposed to live on '* suction," 

 whatever that may mean. And, accordingly, they are cooked with 

 the entrails in the body, and served up on toast. If it were more 

 generally known that worms form a very large part of the diet of 

 this bird, this fashion of cooking would probably soon become obsolete. 



But the Woodcock has yet another claim to our interest, and this 

 rests upon a curious anatomical character — to wit, in the position 

 of the ear-opening. This, as was first pointed out to me by my friend 

 Mr. C. F. Whymper, is situated in front of and beneath the level of 

 the eye. In the Snipes it lies underneath the eye, while in all other 

 birds it is found behind the eye. 



A number of species must now be described which differ con- 

 spicuously from the Snipes and Woodcocks in that they display two 

 very distinct plumages during the year — a sober-coloured dress worn 

 during the autumn and winter months, and a more richly coloured 

 worn during the spring and summer, the latter being assumed just 

 before the nesting-season, and hence is known as the breeding-dress. 



The difference between the spring and winter plumages is, however, 

 not very strikingly marked in the Greenshank (Plate XV. fig. i). 

 This bird is to be met with annually, though never in very large num- 

 bers, throughout Great Britain, on the seashore, as well as on inland 

 waters. It is a rather large bird, measuring about 14 inches in length, 

 and readily distinguishable by having a distinctly upturned beak. 

 In summer the upper parts of the neck and wings are nearly black, 

 relieved by pale grey edgings to the feathers ; but in winter the upper 

 parts are greyer, and the under parts white, while in summer the 

 throat, breast, and flanks are flecked with ash-brown. Met with 

 chiefly during the spring and autumn migrations, this bird breeds in 



