430 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



lighter than the birds of Central and 

 Northern Asia or those of Europe. 



During the day the Wood-Cock is to 

 be found in woods and bush-jungle, where 

 it lies quiet and concealed. Under 

 ordinary conditions it feeds entirely at 

 night, and then frequents the margins of 

 streams and pools where the ground is 

 soft. By preference, no doubt, this bird 

 chooses running water, but it seems to be 

 very often satisfied to feed near ditches, 

 ponds, and swamps. For instance, Captain 

 Williamson found these birds fairly abun- 

 dant near Toungoo, on the margins of 

 jhils, and from the holes in the mud 

 made by the bill, it was obvious that 

 they had been feeding there. 



The Wood-Cock is generally found 

 singly or in pairs, although a good number 

 of birds may sometimes be found not far 

 distant from each other. In India, it is 

 said to be very tame and confiding, being 

 unwilling to rise, and, when on the wing, 

 only flying a few yards before settling 

 again. This is very different from the flight 

 of a Wood-Cock in Europe, where this 

 bird often rises in such a manner as to 

 afford a most difftcult shot. 



Except at the time of " roding," referred 

 to further on, the Wood-Cock is a silent 



