226 BRITISH BIRDS 



THE WHITE WAGTAIL. See under Wagtails. 



THE WIGEON. See under Ducks. 



THE WILD DUCK. See under Ducks. 



THE WILLOW WREN. See under Wrens. 



THE WINDHOVER. See Kestrel (under Hawks). 



THE WOODCHAT. See under Shrikes. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



This well-known bird is a winter visitor to our shores ; 

 nevertheless numerous instances have been recorded of its 

 having remained to breed, sometimes successfully; but being 

 rather a conspicuous looking bird it is as a rule disturbed 

 before the young have been fully reared and often before 

 they have been hatched. 



It varies in size in a remarkable manner, for while 

 some Woodcocks are stated to have reached the unusual 

 weight of 30 ounces, others have turned the scale at 5 

 ounces: an average weight seems to be 1 6 or 17 ounces, 

 the female being rather larger and heavier than her partner. 



The nest is loosely compacted of leaves, grass, etc., 

 and is placed in woods and plantations, as a rule under 

 the shelter of a full-foliaged tree. The eggs are four in 



