THE WOODCOCK. 49 



stormy weather, we are told, they occasionally take refuge in 

 the rigging of vessels at sea, and that numbers are frequently 

 lost in their passage. 



They feed on worms and insects, which they search for with 

 their long bills, in soft ground and moist woods, flying and 

 feeding principally in the night* They go out in the evening, 

 and generally return in the same direction, or through the same 

 glades, to their day retreat. 



The greater part of them leave this country about the latter 

 end of February, or the beginning of March. They retire to 

 the coast ; and, if the wind be favourable, set out immediately ; 

 but if contrary, they are often detained for some time, and thus 

 afford good 'diversion to those sportsmen who reside near the 

 sea. 



Very few of them remain in England during the summer ; 

 though instances of this kind occasionally happen, and the 

 female has been known to make a nest and lay eggs. But even 

 these instances have most likely arisen from the birds having 

 been so wounded by the sportsman in the winter, as to be dis- 

 abled from taking their long journey in spring. They build 

 their nests on the ground, generally at the foot of some tree, and 

 lay four or five eggs, the size of those of a pigeon, of a rusty 

 colour, and marked with brown spots. A single bird was ob- 

 served to remain in a coppice, belonging to a gentleman in Dor- 

 setshire, through the summer. The place, from its shady and 

 moist situation, was well calculated to maintain it ; yet, by 

 degrees, it lost almost all its feathers, so that for some time it 

 was unable to fly, and was often caught ; but in the autumn it 

 recovered its strength and feathers, and flew away. 



Woodcocks generally weigh from twelve to fourteen ounces, 

 and are chiefly found in covers, particularly those with wet bot- 

 toms, and underneath holly bushes ; they are not, however, fond 

 of covers where there is long grass growing in the bottom, and 



