ORDER GRALL/E. 36? 



of which is a simple furrow ; the point is blunt and 



very sensible. In dying and after death, it assumes 



a punctated surface. The feet are not radiate. A 



character peculiar to these birds, is a compressed 



head and large eyes placed considerably behind, 



which give them a singularly stupid air, not at all 



belied by their manners. It is divided into two 



subgenera ; the first, or Rusticola. Vieill. woodcocks, 



with the leg feathered to the tarsus, and the feet 



short. 



See a good memoir on the migration of these birds. 

 Edin. Phil. Jour. 1824. 



IThe Woodcock. Scot. Rusticola. L. Enl. 885. 

 Frisch. 126, 227. Naum. 1st. Ed. I. f. 1. 



Its plumage is universally known ; varied above with 

 grey, red, and black spots ; underneath, grey, with 

 transverse blackish lines. Its distinctive character 

 consists in four broad, transverse, black bands, which 

 succeed each other on the hinder part of the head. 

 The woodcock inhabits lofty mountains in summer, 

 and descends into the woods about October. It 

 goes alone or in pairs, especially in gloomy weather. 

 Seeks worms and insects. It remains but little in 

 the plains during summer. 



Little Woodcock. Scol. Minor. Gm. Amer. Zool. II. 

 pi. xix. Vieill. Gal. 242. Wils. vi. xlviii. 2. 



Hind head, black, with three yellowish bands; beneath, 

 pale yellowish-rusty. America. 



