THE WOODCOCK. 169 



ounces; while the ordinary weight of the English cock is never 

 less than twelve or fourteen ounces, and two are mentioned by 

 writers as having been killed weighing sixteen and seventeen 

 ounces respectively. We have never met with an American bird 

 heavier than nine and a half ounces, save in one instance, although 

 we have been induced to test the weight of many birds of our own 

 shooting, as well as those exposed in the markets, that seemed to 

 us remarkably fine specimens and perhaps above the usual stand- 

 ard in point of size, but have generally been disappointed in the 

 results; for they have seldom reached eight ounces. A seven- 

 ounce bird makes a fine show, and must be full-grown, and in good 

 condition, to weigh this much. We shot a very fine cock last 

 season that weighed over ten ounces, and it now adorns our 

 cabinet.* 



The plumage of these two varieties is also considerably different, 

 and the flesh of the American bird is pronounced superior in rich- 

 ness and juiciness to the English. 



ONE SPECIES ONLY. 



Many of our sporting friends believe that there are two species 

 of woodcocks indigenous to America, a large and a small variety. 

 This, however, is not the case, but an error and a very natural 

 one arising from the great disparity in the respective sizes of the 

 male and female bird. The latter, strange to say, is much the 

 largest, and not unfrequently weighs two, three, and even four 

 ounces more than the male bird. 



HABITS OF WOODCOCKS. 



The habits of woodcocks are very interesting, and in some mea- 

 sure mysterious. They are migratory, and extend their journey- 

 ings as far north as the Canadas and as far south as Florida. 



* G. D. Wetherill, Esq., informed us, a few days since, that a gentleman sent 

 him, a year or two ago, a woodcock that weighed fourteen ounces, which was shot 

 in New Jersey, and it was his intention to have had it mounted, but, owing to the 

 negligence of the party who brought the bird, it was too far gone before he re- 

 ceived it. 



