Class II. WOODCOCK SNIPE. ' / 41 



those countries the beginning of winter, as soon 

 as the frosts commence, which force them into 

 milder climates, where the ground is open, and 

 adapted to their manner of feeding. The time 

 of their appearance and disappearance in Swe- 

 den, coincides most exactly with that of their 

 arrival in, and their retreat from, Great Bri- 

 tain.* They live on worms and insects, which 

 they search for with their long bills in soft 

 ground and among the mosses in moist woods. 

 Woodcocks generally arrive here in flocks, tak- 

 ing advantage of the night, or a mist: they soon 

 separate ; but before they return to their native 

 haunts, pair. They feed and fly by night ; be- 

 ginning their flight in the evening, and return 

 the same way, or through the same glades to 

 their day retreat. They leave England the lat- 

 ter end of Fehruari), or beginning of March ; 

 not but they have been knov/n to continue here 



* M. de Geers and Dr. JVaUeiius s letters to myself. ]M. de 

 Geer expresses himself thus : La Becasse {Scolopax rusiicola) 

 part d'ici vers Vautomne, Je ne seals pas an juste dans quel niois. 

 On la trouve ici assez en alonda7ice dans Fete. Elle a coutume 

 an soleil couchunt de faire sa volee en cercle on toujours en rond 

 en Fair revenant toujours dans le meme endroit a pliisieurs reprises, 

 et cest alors qu on pent la iirer a coup de fusil. En hiver on ne 

 wit aucune, elles parteni alors toutes. 



M. Wallerius gave me this account of them. Scolopaces rusii- 

 cola penes nos nidificant ; sed aiitumnali tempore aheunt, ac ver- 

 nali redeunf. 



