The Snipes. 431 



bird. It feeds by preference on worms, 

 for which it probes the mud with its long, 

 sensitive bill, but it is also partial to 

 beetles and other insects. Their feeding- 

 grounds can generally be detected at 

 once by some well-known signs, either 

 holes bored in the mud, or some other 

 peculiarity. Thus, Mr. Cordeaux remarks : 

 — " Woodcocks evince a great partiality 

 for some favourite plantation or spot in 

 a cover ; they are also very partial to oak- 

 woods ; and their presence may be detected 

 by examining the ground under the trees, 

 as in their search for food they turn over 

 the dead leaves, laying them with great 

 regularity, but the other side up." 



The little pointed feather of the Wood- 

 Cock's wing, so much in request amongst 

 painters, is the outermost primary covert, 

 and lies at the root of the first large 

 primary. This feather is about one inch 

 long, narrow, stiff, pointed, and differently 

 coloured to the other primary coverts. 

 It is brown, with pale indentations on 

 both webs, and a whitish tip. The other 

 primary coverts are black indented with 

 chestnut. 



In spring, the Wood-Cock has a curious 

 habit, which is thus described by See- 

 bohm : — " The Woodcock does not drum 



