16 SCOLOPACHLE. 



very pale yellow brown ; neck in front, breast, and all the 

 under surface of the body, wood brown, transversely barred 

 with dark brown, both shades of brown on the under sur- 

 face becoming lighter in old birds ; under wing-coverts pale 

 brown, barred with dark brown ; under surface of the quill- 

 feathers dry-slate grey, the triangular markings yellowish 

 grey; under surface of the tail-feathers nearly black, 

 tipped with delicate snow-white ; legs and toes livid brown; 

 claws black. 



The whole length is about fourteen inches and a half. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, eight inches 

 and a half ; the second quill-feather the longest. 



As in this family generally, the females of the Woodcock 

 are larger than the males at the same age ; the youngest 

 birds have the shortest beaks. Females have the upper part 

 of the back more black, and the lower part of the back 

 more red, than males. 



Males have the forehead more inclined to grey, with the 

 chin white ; and the space above and below the decided 

 dark-brown mark from the beak to the eye much lighter in 

 colour, almost white, with the small dark triangular speck 

 at the end of these light-coloured feathers better defined : 

 the back has more of the pale brown and grey, and the 

 rump less of the red, than the females ; but the triangular 

 marks on the outer web of the first quill-feather are rather 

 indications of youth than of sex, and are obliterated by 

 degrees, and in succession, from the base to the end of the 

 feather. 



The weight of a Woodcock, from its great variation, is 

 a matter of interest with the naturalist as well as the 

 sportsman. A young male bird of the year, in October, 

 will sometimes weigh only seven ounces ; an old female 

 will frequently weigh fourteen or fifteen ounces. I am in- 

 debted to the kindness of Lord Braybrooke for the follow- 



