114 GRALLATORES. SCOLOPAX.  Woopncock. 
and nearly on a level with the crown, which gives its head, 
and those of the Snipes, a square compressed form, not seen 
to that degree in any other members of the Scolopacide. 
The above-mentioned peculiarity, however, enables these 
birds to probe the ground to a greater depth without incon- 
venience, and'at the same time considerably extends the 
sphere of vision. 
The female (contrary to the account given in SHaw’s 
Zoology), generally exceeds the male bird im size; she also 
has less.of the white and greyish-white upon the back and 
scapulars, and the under parts are of a redder tinge. ‘The 
outer web of the first quill-feather is also barred for the 
whole of its length, which, in the male, is often entirely 
white, or with a few faint bars near to the tip only. 
Prate 23. Fig. 1. Represents the Woodcock of the natural 
size. 
ce Bill flesh-red, tmged with bluish-grey, increasing m inten- 
on sity of colour towards the point; im the living bird 
smooth, but becoming wrinkled or rough near the tip, 
by the desiccation of the nervous fibres, soon after 
death. Forehead and crown grey. From the corners 
of the bill to the eyes is a streak of deep brown. Hind 
part of the head, and nape of the neck, having four 
broad brownish-black bars, the intermediate spaces be- 
ing reddish-white. Chin white. On each side of the 
front of the neck is a patch of brown, more or less dis- 
tinct in different individuals. Upper parts of the plu- 
mage a mixture of chestnut-brown, pale ochreous yel- 
low and grey, with large spots and zigzag transverse 
lines and bars of black; the black most intense upon 
the back and scapulars. Rump and tail-coverts pale 
chestnut-brown ; some of the latter with pale reddish- 
white tips and narrow transverse bars of black. Tail 
black, more or less varied with chestnut-brown; the 
tips of the feathers grey above, and pure white below. 
