THE WOODCOCK. 87 



The Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola, genus Scolo- 

 pax), at once a favourite with sportsmen and 

 epicures, is mostly a winter visitor to the British 

 Isles. Instances are known of its breeding in 

 this country, and then usually in the vicinity 

 of lakes or small pools. It places its eggs on the 



WOODCOCK. 



dead leaves of ferns or other plants ; they are four in 

 number, and vary considerably in colouring and size. 

 One variety has a ground cream-white with spots and 

 blotches of olive-brown and purplish-ash ; a second 

 has the ground pale olive-brown with darker spots of 



