158 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



without, but are the very nature and constitution of the 

 beings that appear to obey them. It is this which makes 

 nature so wonderful, which so stamps upon it the impress 

 of an almighty Creator:— its parts and phenomena are mil- 

 lions; the primary power that puts all in motion, is but 

 One. 



These reflections have been a little extended, because 

 they are often in danger of being overlooked; and because 

 the tranquil shore of an expansive lake is one of the best 

 scenes for contemplation, — one at which the several ele- 

 ments and their inhabitants are more easily brought to- 

 gether than at almost any other. But it is not tlie broad 

 expanse of water, with its mountains and its majestic 

 scenery, that is alone worthy of our contemplation. The 

 mountain tarn, which gleams out in the bosom of some 

 brown hill or beetling rock, like a gem in the desert, when 

 one does not expect it; — the sheet of glittering water amid 

 encircling forests; and the shelving pool amid undulated 

 green hills, with its margins alternating of white marie, 

 clean pebbles, and sedgy banks, have all their beauty and 

 their respective inhabitants. It is true that the osprey and 

 the fishing-eagle do not there disj)lay their feats of strength, 

 and the wild swan does not bring forth her young, or even 

 often visit; but our old friend the heron is there, and she 

 finds new associates with whom she can dwell in peace. 



British Naturalist. 



WOODCOCK. 



SCOLOPJIX MINOR. 



[Plate XIV.] 



^rct. Zool. p. 463, No. 365.— Turt. Syst. 396. Scolo- 

 pax minor, Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 714, No. 2. Gen. Si/n. 

 3, p. 13L — J. Doughty's Collection. 



This bird is universally known to our sportsmen. It 

 arrives in Pennsylvania early in March, sometimes sooner; 

 and I doubt not but in mild winters some few remain with 

 us the whole of that season. During the day, they keep to 

 the woods and thickets, and at the approach of evening seek 

 the springs, and open watery places, to feed in. They soon 

 disperse themselves over the country to breed. About the 

 beginning of July, particularly in long-continued hot 

 weather, they descend to the marshy shores of our laro-e 

 rivers, their favourite springs and watery recesses, inland, 

 being chiefly dried up. To the former of these retreats 

 they are pursued by the merciless sportsman, flushed by 

 dogs, and shot down in great numbers. This species of 

 amusement, when eagerly followed, is still more laborious 

 and fatiguing than that of Snipe-shooting; and from the 

 nature of the ground, or cripple as it is usually called, vi:. 



deep mire, intersected with old logs, which are covered and 

 hid from sight by high reeds, weeds, and alder bushes, the 

 best dogs are soon tired out; and it is customary with sports- 

 men, who regularly pursue this diversion, to have two sets 

 of dogs, to relieve each other alternately. 



The Woodcock usually begins to lay in April. The 

 nest is placed on the ground, in a retired part of the woods, 

 frequently at the root of an old stump. It is formed of a 

 few withered leaves, and stalks of grass, laid with very 

 little art. The female lays four, sometimes five, eo-gs, 

 about an inch and a half long, and an inch or rather more in 

 diameter, tapering suddenly to the small end. These are 

 of a dun clay colour, thickly marked with spots of brown, 

 particularly at the great end, and interspersed with others 

 of a very pale purple. The nest of the Woodcock has, in 

 several instances that have come to my knowledge, been 

 found with eggs in February; but its usual time of begin- 

 ning to lay is early in April. In July, August, and Sep- 

 tember, they are considered in good order for shooting. 



The Woodcock is properly a nocturnal bird, feeding 

 chiefly at night, and seldom stirring about till after sunset. 

 At such times, as well as in the early part of the mornino-, 

 particularly in spring, he rises by a kind of spiral course, to 

 a considerable height in the air, uttering at times a sudden 

 quack, till having gained his utmost height, he hovers 

 around in a wild, irregular manner, making a sort of mur- 

 muring sound; then descends with rapidity as he rose. 

 When uttering his common note on the ground, he seems 

 to do it with difliculty, throwing his head towards the 

 earth, and frequently jetting up his tail. These notes and 

 manoeuvres are most usual in spring, and are the call of the 

 male to his favourite female. Their food consists of vari- 

 ous larvae, and other aquatic worms, for which, during the 

 evening, they are almost continually turning over the 

 leaves with their bill, or searching in the bogs. Their 

 flesh is reckoned delicious, and prized highly. They re- 

 main with us till late in autumn; and on the falling of the 

 first snows, descend from the ranges of the Alleghany, to 

 the lower parts of the country, in great numbers; soon 

 after which, viz. in November, they move off to the south. 

 This bird, in its general figui-e and manners, greatly re- 

 sembles the Woodcock of Europe, but is considerably less, 

 and very differently marked below, being an entirely dis- 

 tinct species. A few traits will clearly point out their dif- 

 ferences. The lower parts of the European Woodcock are 

 thickly barred with dusky waved lines, on a yellowish white 

 ground. The present species has those parts of a bright fer- 

 ruginous. The male of the American species weighs from five 

 to six ounces, the female eight: the European twelve. The 

 European Woodcock makes its first appearance in Britain 

 in October and November, that country being in fact only 

 its winter quarters; for early in March they move oflT to 



