296 THE WOODCOCK. 



powerful, of a blood red colour, as are its legs and feet. It 

 has a naked black ring round its eyes: the wings are black; 

 the rest of the plumage white. 



OBSERVATIONS.. It is a bird of passage, which quits Europe the end of 

 September, and returns in April. It feeds on fish, amphibious animals, 

 field-mice, moles, and even weasels, which it catches coming out of their 

 holes. It also eats insects, especially bees, which it catches by the beak- 

 full on flowers. Its nest is only a heap of dry sticks woven together, and 

 it occupies the same nest every year, after repairing it a little. I have 

 been assured, that some nests have lasted a hundred years ; and the cir- 

 cumference often becomes covered with sparrows and swallows' nests. The 

 male and female never separate, and are a true model of conjugal fidelity. 

 If the young ones are taken from the nest, and fed on frogs and meat, they 

 may be rendered so tame that they will go a league from the house, and 

 return again regularly. At the time of their flight, in September, the 

 wings of those that are to be kept through the winter should be clipped, 

 and they should be kept in a temperate place, as their feet are very sensi- 

 ble to cold. They become so familiar that they will enter the room during 

 meals, to be fed on meat from the table. A clapping with their beak 

 expresses either anger or affection. It is very pleasing to see a tame stork 

 circling round the house, and descending insensibly in a long spiral line 

 till it reaches the ground. 



THE BLACK STORK. 



Ardea nigra, LINNAEUS ; Der schwarze Storch, BECHSTEIH. 



THIS species is nearly as large as the white stork, and is of 

 the same form, but its limbs are weaker and more delicate. 

 Its colour is a glossy brownish black, with the breast and 

 belly white. It frequents woods in the neighbourhood of 

 marshes, lakes, and large ponds, and makes its nest on the trees. 

 Its habits and manner of feeding are similar to those of the 

 white stork. In rearing the young ones, they may be ac- 

 customed to remain in the house, and will soon become 

 familiar. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



Scolopax rusticola, LINNAEUS ; La Be'casse, BUFFON ; Die Waldschnepfe, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THE woodcock is found in every part of Europe where 

 there are forests. The beak is three or four inches in length, 

 straight, and reddish at the base ; the back of the head is 



