WOODCOCK. 7 



cock, in confinement, has been known to consume in one 

 night ; and Daniel has thus described their mode of feeding 

 as observed in an aviary at St. Ildephonso, in Spain : 

 " There was a fountain perpetually flowing to keejv the 

 ground moist, and trees planted for the same purpose; 

 fresh sod was brought to them, the richest in worms that 

 could be found. In vain did the worms seek concealment ; 

 when the Woodcock was hungry, it discovered them by 

 the smell, stuck its beak into the ground, but never higher 

 than the nostrils, drew them out singly, and, raising its 

 bill into the air, it extended upon it the whole length of 

 the worm, and in this way swallowed it smoothly, without 

 any action of the jaws. This whole operation was per- 

 formed in an instant, and the action of the Woodcock was 

 so equal and imperceptible, that it seemed doing nothing : 

 it never missed its aim ; for this reason, and because it 

 never plunged its bill beyond the orifice of the nostrils, 

 it was concluded that the bird was directed to its food by 

 smell." 



Woodcocks appear to leave this country by the same 

 route on which, as here mentioned, they have been ob- 

 served to come ; namely, our eastern coast. Mr. William- 

 son, in his remarks on birds in the vicinity of Scarbo- 

 rough, says, " Good sport is sometimes gained at Wood- 

 cock-shooting in March, when from any cause these birds 

 are prevented continuing their journey northward. In 

 one or two instances a Woodcock has been seen here as 

 late as June." 



That some Woodcocks remain in this country almost 

 every season, and produce their young here, there are 

 many proofs, and that they are also very early breeders 

 seems equally certain. The young are usually hatched by 

 the end of March, or the beginning of April. In 1836, 

 Mr, Blyth saw two young Woodcocks on the 20th of 



