THE WOODCOCK. 171 



away in the rank tussocks of the marshes, and only feed freely in 

 the open grounds at early dawn or towards sunset. This will be 

 seen more particularly when we come to speak of the habits of 

 these birds along the ridges of the Southern rivers. When favored 

 by moonlight, woodcocks wander about in search of food during 

 the whole night, and at such times, like rails, become very fat. 

 We do not pretend to assert that woodcocks feed only during the 

 hours of twilight or moonlight, but that, from the peculiar position 

 and construction of their eyes, they are far better calculated to 

 move about at these times than any other. 



The darker and more dense the covert, the better is it suited for 

 the haunt of woodcocks, as, their eyes being so very large and 

 set so far back in the head, they are enabled to collect every faint 

 ray of light which penetrates through the thickest and most en- 

 tangled foliage: and in such places they may be seen running 

 about and feeding during the bright sunshine. 



There is no bird of which country-people are more ignorant 

 than of the woodcock, as they are seldom seen by any except those 

 who go in quest of them in their wet and often dreary haunts ; and 

 the confiding and inquisitive sportsman will often be led astray if 

 he listens to the silly reports of our agriculturists respecting them, 

 and perhaps find himself on the track of a company of sandpipers, 

 woodpeckers, or other less dainty and interesting birds. 



FOOD. 



This timid and unsocial occupant of our woody delves and rank 

 marshes does not, as is erroneously supposed by many^live by means 

 of suction ; but their food is composed of worms and several spe- 



