SCOLOPACIN^E. RUSTICOLA. 105 



above. Bill half as long again as the head, straight, slen- 

 der, tapering, subtrigonal, and higher than broad at the base, 

 slightly depressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the 

 groove extending almost to the tip, which is blunt and a little 

 decimate ; lower mandible with the intercrural space very 

 long and narrow, the sides grooved and sloping outwards, 

 the tip thin and rounded. Mouth very narrow ; tongue long 

 and slender ; oesophagus narrow ; stomach muscular ; intes- 

 tine of moderate length and width ; cceca rather short and 

 cylindrical. Nostrils linear-oblong, basal. Eyes large and 

 placed high. Legs short ; tibia feathered to the joint ; 

 tarsus short, compressed, scutellate ; hind toe very small and 

 elevated, fore toes moderate, free, compressed, the lateral 

 nearly equal, all scutellate in their whole extent ; claws 

 small, compressed, little arched. Plumage close and firm, 

 the feathers oblong and rounded ; wings of moderate length, 

 broad, rather convex, broadly pointed, the first quill longest, 

 the next almost equal, the rest rather slowly decreasing ; 

 inner secondaries broad, and little elongated ; tail short, 

 tapering, of twelve feathers. 



Habits essentially similar to those of the Snipes. 



208. RUSTICOLA SYLVESTRIS. EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. 



Plumage of the upper parts variegated with black, light 

 red, and reddish-yellow; of the lower reddish-white, with 

 narrow, transverse, undulating bands of dusky brown ; fore- 

 head light grey, hind-head with broad transverse black 

 bands. 



Male, 13i, 24, 7 A, 2 T * , 1^, 1&, T V Female, 14. ^ 

 Arrives from the northern parts of the continent in the 

 beginning of October, and is generally dispersed in Britain 

 and Ireland, frequenting marshy places, brooks, and ditches, 

 generally in woods or thickets, or by hedges. Its flight is 

 more direct and sedate than that of the snipes. Being in the 

 highest estimation as an article of food, it is shot in great 

 numbers. Many pairs have of late years bred in the country ; 

 but the number of those that remain in summer is very small 

 compared with that of the emigrant individuals which take 

 their departure in March and April. It is almost wonderful 

 that so many should escape, seeing the number of dogs, guns, 

 and gins, that are employed to capture them. It resorts to 



