THE RUFF. 439 



at various seasons; but if they are ever served up at 

 table, they must be consignments from the Continent. 

 The female builds her nest of coarse grass, among reeds 

 and rushes, and lays four eggs. The brood, when hatched, 

 remain with her until the period of migration ; but the 

 males take no interest in domestic affairs. The few that 

 have not been caught become more amicably disposed 

 during the latter portion of the year. They lose the 

 feathery shields from whence they derive their English 

 name, and, assuming a peaceful garb, withdraw to some 

 southern climate. The Ruff is about one-third larger than 

 the Reeve ; and the latter is, at all seasons, destitute of a 

 prominent collar. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



SCOLOPAX EUSTICOLA. 



Back of the head barred transversely with dusky ; upper plumage mottled with 

 chestnut, yellow, ash, and black ; lower reddish yellow, with brown zigzag 

 lines ; quills barred on their outer web with rust-red and black ; tail of twelve 

 feathers tipped above with grey, below with silvery white ; bill flesh-colour ; 

 feet livid. Length thirteen inches. Eggs dirty yellow, blotched and spotted 

 with brown and grey. 



THE history of the Woodcock as a visitor in the British 

 Isles is briefly as follows : Woodcocks come to us from 

 the south in autumn, the earliest being annually observed 

 about the 20th of October. On their first arrival, they 

 are generally found to be in bad condition ; so weak, in 

 fact, that I recollect many instances of flights having 

 reached the coast of Cornwall, only able to gain the land. 

 Their condition at these times is one of extreme exhaus- 

 tion ; and they become the prey, not only of the sports- 

 man, but are knocked down with a stick, or caught alive. 

 In the course of a very few days they are enabled 

 to recruit their strength, when they make their way 

 inland. They have been known even to settle on the 

 deck of a ship at sea, in order to rest ; or actually to 



