BIRDS IN THE CALENDAR 



bird's manner of digging for its food in the 

 ooze. The long bill is exceedingly sensitive 

 at the tip, and in all probability, by the aid 

 of a tactile sense more highly developed than 

 any other in our acquaintance, this organ 

 conveys to its owner the whereabouts of 

 worms wriggling silently down out of harm's 

 way. On first reaching Britain, the woodcock 

 remains for a few days on the seashore to 

 recover from its crossing, and at this time of 

 rest it trips over the wet sand, generally in 

 the gloaming, and picks up shrimps and such 

 other soft food as is uncovered between tidal 

 marks. It is not among the easiest of birds 

 to keep for any length of time in captivity, 

 but if due attention be paid to its somewhat 

 difficult requirements in the way of suitable 

 food, success is not unattainable. On the 

 whole, bread and milk has been found the 

 best artificial substitute for its natural diet. 

 With the kiwi of New Zealand, a bird not 

 even distantly related to the woodcock, and 

 a cousin rather of the ostrich, but equipped 

 with much the same kind of bill as the subject 

 of these remarks, an even closer imitation of 

 the natural food has been found possible in 

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