THE WOODCOCK. 161 



withered leaves, and every now and then probe, with the greatest 

 fticility, the rich loamy soil with their long slender bills. We 

 are inclined to believe that this report of the feeding of the 

 Woodcock is more the result of imagination than of actual 

 observation, like many other vulgar errors respecting natural 

 histor3^ If, hov.'ever, there be any truth whatever in it, we might 

 possibly credit that this Bird may be forced to resort to some 

 such process as the above, to enable it to bury its slender bill 

 deep into the earth in some particular spots where the soil is 

 extremely dry ; but, unfortunately for the support even of this 

 hypothesis. Woodcocks are never found in such places, and even 

 if they were, they could not hope to extract from such a soil 

 their usual food, no matter how deep they might bore. We 

 would, however, prefer abandoning entirely this fanciful idea, 

 and should not, perhaps, have given it as much attention as we 

 already have, had we not found the subject referred to by a 

 very respectable writer of our country, who seems, from his 

 remarks, to give some credence to the report.* 



The American Cock, without doubt, feeds in the same way 

 as the European variety, and which is minutely described by a 

 close observer, who had a fair opportunity of studying the 

 habits of these interesting Birds, in the Aviary of St. Ilde- 

 phonso, in Spain. 



" There was," says Mr. Bowles, " a fountain perpetually flow- 

 ing to keep the ground moist, and trees planted for the same 

 purpose; fresh sod was brought, the richest in worms that 

 could be found. In vain did the worms seek concealment 

 when the Woodcock was hungry ; it discovered them by the 

 smell, stuck its bill into the ground, but never higher than the 

 nostrils, drew them out singly, and raising its bill into the air, 

 it extended upon it the entire length of the worm, and in this 

 way swallowed it smoothly, without any action of the jaws. 

 The whole operation was performed in an instant, and the 

 motion of the Woodcock was so equal and imperceptible that it 

 seemed doing nothing — it never missed its aim; for this reason, 

 and because it never plunged its bill beyond the orifice of the 



* We refer to the remarks of J. S. Skinner, Esq., on this lieaJ. 

 11 



