353 BRLTISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



WOODCOCK. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 fifteen inches. Bill long, straight, dark brown at 

 the tip, and pale reddish-brown at the base. Irides 

 dark brown. A dark streak of brown extends from 

 the gape to the eye. Head and upper-parts a 

 mixture of rusty brown, black, and grey, which occur 

 in each feather and produce a handsomely variegated 

 effect. Cheeks and the whole of the under-parts 

 yellowish-white, numerously barred with dark wavy 

 lines. Legs and toes brown ; claws black. 



The female is similar in plumage to the male, 

 but both are subject to great variation in size and 

 colour. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, amongst 

 dead grass, under brackens, ferns, brambles, and 

 sometimes amongst dead leaves at the foot of a 

 tree ; in woods, plantations, coppices, and forests 

 with plenty of the undergrowth just named ; very 

 sparingly but pretty generally in suitable localities 

 throughout the United Kingdom. Our illustration 

 is from a photograph of a nest situated under a 

 fallen branch in a Norfolk wood. 



Materials. Dry grass, fern-fronds, and dead 

 leaves, placed in some natural, dry, and sheltered 

 hollow ; sometimes a suitable declivity is scraped 

 by the bird. 



Eggs. Four, yellowish-white to buffi sh-br own. 

 blotched with pale chestnut-brown and ash-grey. 

 Size about 1-7 by 1-35 in. 



Time. March, April, and May. 



Remarks. A winter visitor, although a few 

 individuals stay with us all the year round. Notes : 

 alarm, sJcaych, somewhat resembling that of the 



