312 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



being often on a bank, or at the foot of a bush. The bird evinces 

 a partiality for particular localities, and special woods, and certain 

 spots in those woods are sure " finds " for " cock." Moreover, should 

 the occupant of any particular spot be killed, its place is almost 

 certain to be shortly filled by another bird. 



The species migrates almost exclusively by night, though at times, 

 when driven out of its course by tempestuous weather and forced to 

 make a longer journey than it would otherwise have done, it may 

 be observed arriving from the sea during the day-time. This has 

 been noticed by Doderlein on the small island of Ustica, off the north 

 coast of Sicily (Avif. Mod. et Sic, p. 193). 



An idea is popular that moonlight nights are chosen by this species 

 for its journeyings, but the probability is that migration is effected 

 equally on dark nights, and that it is regulated by the wind which 

 may happen to be prevailing at the time of passage. 



The AVoodcock's flight, when on migration and well under weigh, 

 is probably much swifter than it is when the bird is flushed in a 

 wood, or during its morning and evening " flights " to or from its 

 feeding places. On such occasions its flight is not particularly rapid, 

 though in a thick wood, rather puzzling to the sportsman, in conse- 

 quence of the turns and twists made by the bird in and out among 

 the trees. 



The Woodcock is silent, as a rule, but when suddenly flushed, 

 sometimes utters a note resembling that of the Snipe. During the 

 breeding-season it utters other notes, among them the well known 

 whistle followed by two croaks. 



GALLINAGO MAJOR (Gmelin). 

 DOUBLE SNIPE. 



Scolopax major, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, p. 661 (1788). 



Gallinago major, Koch, Syst. baler. Zool. p. 313 (1816) ; Sharpe, Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mm. xxiv, p. 626; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 294 

 (1867); Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 265; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 79; 

 Whitakcr, Ibis, 1895, p. 106. 



Ascolopax major, Malherbe, Fauiie Orn. dc I'Alg. p. 33 (1855). 



