WOODCOCK 



63 



feed on worms, insects, beetles, slugs, etc. ; in short, such animals as they can 

 extract froin the ground with their long beaks. In order to get at tiie worms and 



B a I 



A WOODCOCK ON" THE WING. 



larvae, a woodcock turns up patches of leaves, into which it thrusts its sensitive 

 beak right up to the nostrils, but never deeper : and in damp, soft ground, or 

 fresh manure, it bores holes alongside each other. It can, without withdrawing 



