340 



GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



food. The brightness of dajdight prevents their seeing clearly, 

 and thej' do not possess full j)o\ver of their visual faculties until 

 evening, when thejr emerge from their retreats, and seek their 

 sustenance in the cultivated fields, damp meadows, or in the 

 vicinity of springs. 



Woodcocks do not all migrate, but remain throughoiit the year 

 in the neighbourhood of springs which the most bitter cold cannot 

 freeze. Solitary during the greater part of the year, they pair 

 in spring ; building their nest on the ground with grass and 

 roots, placing it close to the trunk of some tree (the Scotch fir 

 by preference, it is said), or in a holly-bush. The female lays 



iig. lliu. -VVouJcod.s ( Willie anil Isal.flle 



four or five oval eggs, rather larger than those of a Pigeon. The 

 young ones run about as soon as they are hatched : the ixirent 

 birds guard them with careful solicitude, and manifest on all occa- 

 sions the greatest love of their ofispring. If any danger threatens 

 the old birds catch up their young, holding tjiom under their 

 neclvs by means of their beaks, and afterwards transferrin^ them 

 to a place of safety . 



These birds seem always to feci an affection for places thev 

 have once frequented, and love to return to them ; the fol- 

 lowing fact, at least, would lead one to think so. A game- 

 keeper, having snared a Woodcock, gave it its liberty" after 



