SCOLOPACIDZ—WOODCOCK. 257 
Distribution: Breeds in the circumpolar regions of both 
hemispheres, migrating southward in autumn. Does not occur 
very far south in Europe, but reaches Northern India, and fre- 
quents the east coast of Asia down to New Guinea. In the 
Western Hemisphere it ranges to Central America. 
Habitat: More partial to marshes inland than P. Julicarius. 
Genus SCOLOPAX. 
WOODCOCK. ww 
Scolopax rusticula Zinn. 
Adult: Fore part of head dull greyish-brown, hinder crown 
and nape rufous, crossed by four broad black bands ; chin 
and upper throat white, spotted on sides with brown ; from 
eye to gape a broad blackisb-brown band ; back and scapulars 
yariegated with rufous-brown and black and conspicuously 
spotted with pale grey or yellowish ; feathers of rump and upper 
tail-coverts rufous-brown, with pale tips and vermiculated with 
brown ; tail-feathers blackish, with grey tips on the upper 
surface and silvery-white tips beneath, their outer webs spotted 
with chestnut ; wing-quills dusky, Zarred with chestnut; under 
Parts greyish-buff, nargowly darred with brown and marked on 
sides of neck with chestnut ; bill dull flesh-colour, dark brown 
at tip; legs and feet dull flesh-colour; irides dark brown. 
Length about 14 inches ; culmen 2°5 ; wing 7°5 to 8; tail 3°3; 
tarsus 1°4. 
Young: Closely resemble adults, but have the forehead 
more buff in tint and the chestnut spots on the outer margins 
of the tail-feathers are lengthened into bars reaching the 
shaft. 
Distribution: Breeds in the temperate portions of the 
Palearctic region, migrating southward in autumn to Northern 
Africa, India and Ceylon; of very rare occurrence on the 
North American coasts. 
Habitat: Dense woods and forests, both deciduous and 
evergreen. 
S 
