446 



THE NATURE BOOK 



to the decaying leaf-strewn ground upon 

 which it rests by day, and from which 

 it nightly extracts its diet of worms — 

 the suppleness of the long and sensitive 



the Woodcock may be discovered by 

 turning back the feathers below the eye 

 and towards the gape, when the large 

 ear-opening will be discovered. It is in a 

 very unusually forward posi- 

 tion, but is most advantage- 

 ously situated for hearing the 

 slightest movement in or on 

 the soil surface whilst the 

 bird is in quest of its lively 

 victuals. Besides the con- 

 spicuous eye, by which sports- 

 men are poetically said to 

 discern the whereabouts of a 

 Woodcock, there is another 

 striking item about this bird 

 in the white tips to the 

 under side of the tail feathers. 

 These, howe\^er, are only 

 visible when the bird flirts 

 its tail upon alighting, and 

 then, of course, one must be 

 behind it to notice them at 

 all. In the economy of Nature 

 this small white patch may 

 serve as an attraction in the 

 courting display in which all 

 birds indulge, however sombre 

 their general plumage may 

 be. It may also act as a 

 sign-post or danger signal, 

 after the manner of the more 

 conspicuous white scut of a 

 startled and departing rabbit. 

 The weight of a Woodcock 

 varies from 8 to i8oz., accord- 

 ing to the weather and food 

 supply ; and the length from 

 13I to 14J inches. 



The chief distinguishing 

 mark between the Jack and 

 Common Snipe consists in 

 their relative size ; the latter 

 beak, nerved to the tip to assist in locating larger and resident species measure from 

 its squirming prey, should be noted. The Qi to 11 inches, according to age, and, 

 size of the beady, brown-black eye — I think, race. (The chief difference is in 

 enlarged for the purpose of facilitating the beak.) 



its nocturnal rambles — claims close atten- The lightest bird that I have ever 



tion, as does also the backward position weighed only scaled 3-J oz., and the 

 of this highly developed organ. For if heaviest 6| oz., but 8 oz. has been re- 

 it were placed as near to the base of the corded. Jacks are generally about yl in. 

 bill as is the case with most birds, it long ; and my lightest and heaviest 



MALE AND FEMALE SNIPE COVERING CHICKS 



would run the risk of becoming clogged recorded weights are i;^ oz. and 32 oz., 



with mud and dirt during the continuous respectively. The former weight is not 



process of probing for food. Another infrequent in prolonged frost, with snow ; 



provision of Nature in connection with but it is mar\-ellous that a bird of this 



