SCOLOPAX RUSTICTJLA 311 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from North Tunisia. 



General colour of plumage above russet-brown, richly pencilled and 

 marked with black, the forehead and neck greyer, and the back, rump and 

 wings more rufous ; under parts pale buff, finely barred and vermiculated 

 throughout with dusky-brown. 



Iris dark olive-brown ; bill flesh colour, becoming black at the tip ; feet 

 pale brown. 



Total length 14 inches, wing 7-50, culuieu 3, tarsus 1-35. 



Adult female resembles the male. 



The Woodcock winters in Tunisia, and is not uncommon in the 

 wooded districts north of the Atlas, between the months of November 

 and March. Though I never heard of very large " bags " being made, 

 the bird must be fairly plentiful in the neighbourhood of Tunis, 

 as the market of that town is more or less abundantly supplied with 

 Woodcocks throughout a considerable portion of the winter. 



South of the Atlas, where woods are scarce, the species is not 

 often seen, though it is to be met with occasionally. Von Erlanger 

 obtained an example on a rocky islet near the island of Knais, off the 

 south-east coast of the Eegency (J. f. 0. 1900, p. 70). 



The Woodcock occurs in Algeria and Marocco during the winter, 

 and is apparently fairly abundant in some parts. 



In the Canaries, Madeira, and the Azores it is resident, and breeds 

 in the wooded mountains. 



North of the Mediterranean the species occurs generally through- 

 out Europe, breeding in the northern and central parts, even as far 

 south as Central Italy, and wintering in the south of the Continent. 

 Its range extends through a considerable portion of Asia, as far east 

 as Japan, while southwards it extends to Ceylon. 



In its habits the present .species is solitary and nocturnal. It is 

 usually to be found singly, or in pairs during the breeding-season. 

 Its favourite haunts are thick woods, and well-bushed hill-sides, in 

 the neighbourhood of, or not far from, wet or moist localities, to which 

 it resorts after sundown in search of food. This consists chiefly 

 of earth-worms, slugs and insects of various kinds, which it obtains 

 by probing with its long bill in the mud or soft soil. Vegetable 

 matter is also eaten by the bird, and in Scotland it is said sometimes 

 to feed on the tender shoots of heather. 



During the daytime the Woodcock remains hidden in woods and 

 other thick cover, selecting some secluded spot for its retreat ; this 



