352 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



WOODCOCK. 



Description of Pai-eut Birds. — Lengtli about 

 fifteen inches. Bill long, straight, dark brown at 

 the tip, and pale reddish-brown at the base. Irides 

 dark brown. A dark streak of brown extends from 

 the gape to the eye. Head and upper-parts a 

 mixture of rusty brown, black, and grey, which occur 

 in each feather and produce a handsomely variegated 

 effect. Cheeks and the whole of the under-parts 

 yellowish-white, numerously barred with dark wavy 

 lines. Legs and toes brown ; claws black. 



The female is similar in plumage to the male, 

 but both are subject to great variation in size and 

 colour. 



Situation and Locality. — On the ground, amongst 

 dead grass, under brackens, ferns, brambles, and 

 sometimes amongst dead leaves at the foot of a 

 tree ; in woods, plantations, coppices, and forests 

 with plenty of the undergrowth just named ; very 

 sparingly but pretty generally in suitable localities 

 throughout the United Kingdom. Our illustration 

 is from a photograph of a nest situated under a 

 fallen branch in a Norfolk w^ood. 



Materials. — Dry grass, fern-fronds, and dead 

 leaves, placed in some natural, dry, and sheltered 

 hollow ; sometimes a suitable declivity is scraped 

 by the bird. 



Eggs. — Four, yellowish-white to buffish-brown. 

 blotched with pale chestnut-brown and ash-grey. 

 Size about 1'7 by 1'35 in. 



Time. — March, April, and May. 



UemarTxS. — A winter visitor, although a few 

 individuals stay with us all the year round. Notes : 

 alarm, shaych, somewhat resembling that of the 



