( 474 ) 

 THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 



SCOLOPAX MINOR, GmEL. 

 PLATE CCLXVI II. Male, Female, and Young. 



Theue is a kind of innocent simplicity in our Woodcock, which has 

 often excited in me a deep feehng of anxiety, when I witnessed the rude 

 and unmerciful attempts of mischievous boys, on meeting a mother bird 

 in vain attempting to preserve her dear brood from their savage grasp. 

 She scarcely Umps, nor does she often flutter along the ground, on such 

 occasions ; but with half extended wings, inclining her head to one side, 

 and uttering a soft murmur, she moves to and fro, urging her young to 

 hasten towards some secure spot beyond the reach of their enemies. Re- 

 gardless of her own danger, she would to all appearance gladly suffer 

 herself to be seized, could she be assured that by such a sacrifice she 

 might ensure the safety of her brood. On an occasion of this kind, I saw 

 a female Woodcock lay herself down on the middle of a road, as if she 

 were dead, while her little ones, five in number, were endeavouring on 

 feeble legs to escape from a pack of naughty boys, who had already 

 caught one of them, and were kicking it over the dust in barbarous sport. 

 The mother might have shared the same fate, had I not happened to is- 

 sue from the thicket, and interpose in her behalf. 



The American Woodcock, although allied to our Common Snipe, 

 Scolopax Wilsonii, differs essentially from it in its habits, even more than 

 in form. The former is a much gentler bird than the latter, and although 

 both see at night, the Woodcock is more nocturnal than the Snipe. The 

 latter often, without provocation or apparent object, migrates or takes 

 long and elevated flights during the day ; but the Woodcock rarely takes 

 flight at this time, unless forced to do so to elude its enemies, and even 

 then removes only to a short distance. When rambUng unconcernedly, 

 it rarely passes high above the tree tops, or is seen before the dusk or 

 after the morning twilight, when it flies rather low, generally through 

 the woods ; and its travels are altogether performed under night. The 

 largeness of its eyes, as compared with those of the Snipe, might of itself 

 enable one to form such a conclusion ; but there is moreover a difference 

 in the habits of the Woodcock and Snipe, which I have been i^urpriscd at 



