CURLEW, WOODCOCK, AND SNIPE. 19) 



THE CURLEW. 



This bird frequents our coasts during the winter; and 

 retires from them, at the approach of spring, to the moun 

 tainous parts of the country, to breed. It is pretty large, 

 and its colours are diversified with ash and black. The 

 flesh is esteemed delicate by nine, while others reprobate 

 it as rank and fishy. There are several distinct species, 

 but all agree in the generic characters; namely, a beak 

 longer than the head, roundish, obtuse at the point ; and 

 feet furnished with four toes, the hinder one composed of 

 several joints. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



The woodcock is a most delicate bird, the favourite food 

 of dainty palates ; and affords particular amusement to the 

 fowler to bring it down. Its colours are a variation of 

 black, grey, and reddish brown ; the beak is three inches 

 long, and is formed for probing soft moist ground. 



During summer, woodcocks inhabit the Alps, and the 

 northern countries of Europe, where they breed. They 

 subsist wholly on worms and insects, which the extensive 

 forests and lakes of the north produce in abundance : but 

 no sooner does the frost set in, than they wing their flight 

 to more temperate climates, and continue there till the 

 beginning of March, when they regularly disappear, ex- 

 cept a small number which occasionally breed with * us. 

 Before their departure, they flock towards the coast ; and, 

 if the wind is favourable, immediately take wing, but 

 otherwise prudently wait for a propitious gale. 



THE SNIPE. 



Though the snipe is generally a bird of passage, it 

 sometimes remains here during the whole year, and it 

 certainly breeds in the northern parts of Scotland. It 



* In the summer of 1817, three young woodcocjcs were found in 

 the woods of Buscot Park, in Berks, belonging to E. L. Loveden, 



