16 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



only lay two eggs at a time, many species rear three or 

 four broods in a season, so that their fecundity is large. 



From species which are either systematically bred by 

 game preservers, or reared for the table in a domesticated 

 state, we pass to another large and important group of 

 birds which, though strictly wild, are very extensively 

 used as food. This group includes the Snipes, the 

 Plovers, and the various species of Wild Ducks and Geese 

 which are all classed as Wild Fowl. Most of these birds 

 are migratory, and come to the more civilised portions 

 of the globe in autumn from their summer haunts in the 

 Arctic regions, speeding north again in the spring. During 

 their sojourn on southern coasts and marshes they are 

 incessantly sought after and taken in various ways, for 

 the sake of their commercial value as food. Vast 

 numbers are netted every season ; still greater quantities 

 are shot, by men who gain a somewhat precarious liveli- 

 hood in procuring them for the different markets. The 

 highly prized Woodcock is a great table delicacy ; so are 

 the Snipe and the Plover, the Curlew and the Redshank ; 

 whilst the various species of wild Duck, especially the 

 Canvas-back of North America, are also good eating. 

 Though not strictly speaking Wild Fowl, the Skylark, the 

 Ortolan, and other species of Passerine birds should here 

 be alluded to as articles of food, which are caught in 

 great numbers every spring and autumn when they are 

 on their annual migrations. London alone consumes 



