WOODCOCK. .593 



but it is rare to flusli them in the forests. On the island of 

 Hitteren, near Drontheim, they are common, and at Quick- 

 iock in western Lapknd beyond the Arctic Circle. They 

 are widely dispersed, but nowhere numerous. The pine 

 forests are their summer haunts. They breed also in Fin- 

 land, Russia, and Siberia ; Sir W. Jardine, says the Wood- 

 cock is found in Silesia, sometimes called Polish Prussia, 

 from April to October. There are said to be but few Wood- 

 cocks in Germany, and not many in France. A few breed in 

 Switzerland, but their numbers are very variable. Common 

 in Italy in winter, and also still further west, south, and east. 

 Dr. Heineken says the Woodcock is found all the year 

 through at Madeira ; they are found in Barbary, are common 

 at Athens ; and Mr. Strickland says. Woodcocks were so 

 abundant at Smyrna during the winter of 1885-36, that many 

 were killed in small gardens in the midst of the town ; they 

 are found also in Egypt and Aleppo. The Zoological So- 

 ciety have lately received notice of our Woodcock having 

 been obtained at Cashmere. I possess a skin from India 

 which is identical with our bird, and others have recorded 

 them as inhabiting various parts of that country ; M. Tem- 

 minck says it is also found in Japan. 



The beak is dark brown at the point, pale reddish brown 

 at the base, and generally about three inches long ; the irides 

 dark brown ; the eye large, convex, and prominent ; from 

 the beak to the eye a dark brown streak : the colour of the 

 plumage of this bird is a mixture, principally of three shades 

 of brown ; namely, pale wood-brown, chestnut-brown, and 

 dark umber-brown ; each feather on the upper surface of the 

 body contains the three shades, but so disposed as to pro- 

 duce a beautifully variegated appearance. The cheeks pale 

 wood-brown, spotted with dark brown ; the forehead, to the 

 top of the head, greyish brown ; occiput and nape rich dark 

 brown, transversely divided into three nearly equal patches 



VOL. II. ^ Q 



