Woodcock. 425 



ceedingly pugnacious ; no gamecock could be more combative, 

 and hence they derive both their generic and specific names, 

 Machetes, signifying 'warrior/ from /m^-nf?, andpugnax, ' fond of 

 fighting/ from pugna. So in France it is Becasseau combattant ; 

 in Germany Streitstrandlaufer ; in Italy, Gambetta scherzosa, or 

 'Playing Horseman/ in reference to the lek, or' hill ' ; and Com- 

 battente, in reference to its pugnacity ; in Spain it is Com- 

 batiente, and in Sweden Brus-hane. The Rev. R. Lubbock says 

 that when the ' hill ' is over the males seem to be much inconve- 

 nienced by the collar of long feathers which obstructs their flight, 

 rendering it slow and laboured; but, relieved of this by the autumn 

 moult, their flight becomes powerful and glancing, like that of 

 the female. No birds were in old time more highly esteemed by 

 epicures than the Ruffs ; consequently the price they fetched was 

 very remunerative, and they were caught in nets in great numbers 

 and fatted on bread and milk, hempseed, boiled wheat, and sugar. 

 But the method of killing them when fat enough for the table, 

 though as quick and certain as by the guillotine, seems to us 

 barbarous enough, for it was the custom to cut off their heads 

 with a pair of scissors, in order that the blood might more readily 

 be discharged, and then they were dressed like woodcock.* 



159. WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticola). 



I need scarcely assert that this is a winter migrant to our 

 county, though I fear it is becoming less abundant every year. 

 A few pairs undoubtedly remain in England to breed in summer, 

 and a nest was found at Winterslow in 1830, but the larger part 

 retire to more northern and more secluded localities. It loves 

 open glades, and moist ground in woods, and is not therefore 

 often seen in the down districts. Occasionally, as I learnt from 

 Mr. Stratton, of Gore Cross, as well as from the late Mr. William 

 Tanner, of Rockley, it is to be met with in our more exposed 

 covers on the hills. But the moister climate of Ireland seems to 

 have attractions for the Woodcocks which this country does not 

 hold out, for we learn from Mr. Knox's admirable book that 

 Cordeaux's ' Birds of the Humber,' p. 121. 



