54 ACCESSIBLE. FIELD SPORTS. 



parts, with another similar line underneath, and mark- 

 ing the outline of the lower mandible. Three broad 

 bands of brownish-black pass lengthways and parallel 

 from the shoulder to the tail, divided from one another 

 by a narrow line of bluish grey. The stomach and 

 breast are of a warm fawn colour, becoming deeper in 

 shade as it approaches the tail and termination of the 

 wings. 



This description, I am aware, is far from perfect, or 

 such as the naturalist would demand ; still, I think it is 

 sufficiently clear to enable the novice to distinguish what 

 he has got when the first American woodcock falls to his 

 companionable gun. Although this woodcock resem- 

 bles, in many respects, the snipe, in point of character 

 it is essentially different. For instance, snipe will, 

 in the middle of the day, without any perceptible 

 reason, be seen taking long and erratic flights, ascend- 

 ing so high that the keenest sight fails to trace their 

 course, and again wheeling about in the heavens, as if 

 they were creatures of extraordinary momentary im- 

 pulses ; one instant, with speed, dashing off to the right, 

 and in the next moment returning with equal velocity. 

 Not so with woodcock; they very seldom take flight 

 during the glare of daylight unless disturbed, and then 

 it is short, and only sufficient to avoid, if possible, the 

 intruder a second time disturbing their privacy. When 



