THE WOODCOCK.] 



SHOOTING, 



[the "WOODCOCK. 



The digestive powers of the woodcock are re- 

 markably vigorous, and work with great rapid- 

 ity. On anatomical examination there is very 

 little found in its stomach and intestines, save 

 a few fibres of a vegetable texture, mixed with 

 some sand, small stones, and gravel. 



Of the British species of woodcock there are 

 three varieties. "In the first," says Dr. La- 

 tham, " the head is of a pale red, body white, 

 and the wings brown ; the second is of a dun, 

 or rather cream colour; and the third of a pure 

 white. Dr. Hesham, in his Catalogue of Cum- 

 lerland A7iimals, mentions having met with 

 one, the general colour of which was a fine 

 pale ash, with frequent bars of a very delicate 

 rufous ; tail brown, tipped with white ; and 

 the bill and legs a flesh colour." In addition 

 to these, some other varieties are taken no- 

 tice of by Marmaduke Tuustall, Esq., of "Wy- 

 clifF, in his interleaved books of Ornithology. 

 Mr. Daniel seems likewise to be aware of such 

 a difference; for he observes that there are 

 different sizes of woodcocks. Those found in 

 the first part of the season are of the largest 

 size, fly heavily, and their heads appear to be 

 muffled, especially the under parts, with short 

 feathers. The most numerous tribe, which ar- 

 rive in November and December, are rather 

 smaller, their heads less, the feathers smoother. 

 and the bills shorter. Woodcocks that arrive 

 in this country about Candlemas, are likewise 

 small, and diff'er in their manner of flying ; are 

 quicker of wing, take pretty long flights, and 

 are well known to be very difficult to shoot, on 

 account of their not rising above the spray, 

 like the larger muffled woodcocks, but make 

 their way for some distance, as it were, among 

 the boughs. Mr. Baillon also notices two 

 kinds of woodcocks. " The largest arrive first, 

 and may be distinguished from the others by 

 the colour of their legs, which are of a greyish 

 tint, inclining to rose colour. The smaller 

 kind have a coating similar to that of the com- 

 mon woodcock, but their legs are blue. Varie- 

 gated plumage, and other anomalies, now and 

 then occur among these birds: thus, a pure 

 white one has been seen ; and we can only 

 wonder that still greater variations do not 

 frequently take place ; for although most sport- 

 ing works, in their account of the woodcock, 

 usually confine his foreign residence to the north 

 of Europe, yet it should be known that he is 

 556 



likewise found in all the climates, both hot and 

 cold, in the old continent, as well as in North 

 and South America. It is, however, a curious 

 fact, that he is everywhere an emigrating bird. 

 His migrations in some countries appear, how- 

 ever, to be confined to a journey from the 

 plains to the mountains, and vice versd. In 

 Europe he is located during the summer on the 

 Alps, Pyrenees, and other lofty mountains, 

 from whence he migrates to the regions below, 

 and probably some reach us. His universality 

 thus established, we need not be surprised that 

 he sliould thus spoi^t into varieties, seeing that 

 every locality, according to its proximity or re- 

 moteness from what may be considered as his 

 attracting spot for domestication for the time, 

 has its influence over the size, colour, and even 

 the aptitudes of the bird." 



The sex of the woodcock has been considered 

 as entirely unmarked by any external signs ; 

 but internally it can be readily detected. Mr. 

 Pennant thinks, from the examination of the 

 bird's feathers, which in the Jien present a 

 narrow stripe of white along the lower part of 

 the exterior veil of the feather, would be suffi- 

 cient to do away with all doubt upon the ques- 

 tion as to which is the cock and which is the 

 hen. In the male bird, the same feather, at 

 the same part, is beautifully and regularly 

 spotted with black and reddish white. Many 

 sportsmen maintain that there is another cri- 

 terion — namely, the greater size of the female 

 bird; but this is not invariably to be de- 

 pended on. 



The female woodcock makes a very careless 

 nest, consisting of some dried leaves and 

 fibres, on the bare ground, and very often 

 chooses the root or stump of a decayed tree 

 for the locality. She commonly lays four or 

 five eggs, a shade larger than those of pigeons, 

 and of a rusty green colour, blotched and 

 marked with dusky ill-defined spots. The 

 young quit the nest as soon as they are freed 

 from the shell ; but the parent bird continues 

 to attend them until they can provide for 

 themselves. Buffon informs us that the 

 mother will sometimes take a weak bird under 

 its throat, and carry it more than a thousand 

 paces. 



The flesh of this bird is, by gastronomes, 

 held in high estimation ; and it is eagerly 

 sought after by many sportsmen. In cooking 



