MODERN FARRIER, 56i 



eggs, about the size of a pigeon's, of a rusty colour, 

 and marked with brown spots ; they are so remark- 

 ably tame during incubation, that they may be con- 

 stantly looked at, and even stroked with the hand. 

 Very few of them remain in England during the 

 summer season ; a few, indeed, have occasionally 



jl tarried, and the female has been known to make a 

 nest and lay eggs. This may be probably o\ving to 

 the birds having been wounded by sportsmen in the 

 winter, which has rendered them incapable of taking 

 their long journey in the ensuing spring ; and when 

 they do stop in this country for the summer season, 

 it seldom happens that two of them, male and fe- 

 male, are found together, and therefore woodcocks 



I are very rarely bred in England, though the female 

 will lay eggs. 



These birds, which are more plentiful in Ireland 

 than in England, Wales, or Scotland, are chiefly 

 found in thick covers, particularly those with wet 

 bottoms, and underneath holly bushes : they are 

 not, however, fond of covers where there is long 

 grass growing in the bottom, and at the roots of 

 trees. In mild weather, they are found chiefly in 

 the open country, in hedge-rows, &c. ; but a severe 

 frost forces them to the thickest covers, and to small 

 running streams, which are sheltered with trees or 

 underwood. The woodcock sees better in the dusk 

 of evening and by moonlight, his sight being very 

 indifferent in the day time ; and it must also be re- 

 marked, that these birds lie much better the day 

 following a moonlight night than when it has been 

 preceded by a very dark one. On this account, by 

 the light of the moon they are enabled to make a 

 plentiful repast, and the next day are consequently 

 lazy and unwilling to fly ; but when the darkness of 

 the night deprives them of food, necessity compels 

 them to seek it in the day time, which otherwise 

 they never attempt. 



4 B 



