THE WOODCOCK. 395 
sparrows. From this post we could watch the Snipes to great advantage, 
and the birds would come circling over our heads, piping and drumming 
vigorously. On several occasions, when a Snipe was passing over us at so 
low an elevation that his long drooping beak was distinctly visible, he 
stooped over our heads and uttered his “chic-a! chic-a!” simultaneously 
with the “drumming,” both sounds being distinctly heard at the same time. 
The first time that we clearly heard the double sound was on June 27, but 
we repeatedly heard it on subsequent occasions. The Snipe ~emains a 
long time upon the wing while thus engaged, contrary to its usual habit, 
which is to fly for a short distance and then to pitch again. 
The nest of the Snipe is a simple heap of leaves pl-ced under the shelter 
of a tuft of furze, heath, or grass, and the eggs are four in number, of an olive- 
white, spotted and dashed with brown of different tones towards and upen 
the large end. The mother bird has been known to carry away her young 
when threatened by danger. 
THE WOODCOCK is neatly as well known, though not so plentiful as the 
snipe, to which bird it bears a considerable resemblance in form, plumage, 
and many habits. 
Generaliy it is only a winter visitor, arriving about October, and leaving 
England in March or April. Sometimes, however, it will breed within the 
British Isles, and there remain throughout 
the summer. During their migration the 
Woodcocks fly ata great altitude, and de- 
scend almost perpendicularly upon the spot 
where they intend torest. They fly in com- 
panies of varying numbers, and prefer 
hazy and calm weather for their journey. 
The food of the Woodcock consists 
mostly of worms, which it obtains with 
extraordinary skill, thrusting its beak as 
far as the nostrils into the soft moist earth, 
and hitting upon the hidden worms with 
unerring skill. A tame Woodcock has 
been seen to probe large turfs with its bill, 
and to draw out a worm at every thrust 
of the long slender beak. It is thought 
that the sense of smell enables the bird to 
discover the worms beneath the surface. é . 
It moves about chiefly on misty days, and woopdcock.—(Scolopax rusticola.) 
is said by experienced woodcock shooters f 6 
to prefer the northern side of a hill to the southern. 
It is a very silent bird, seldom uttering its cry except when first starting 
for its feeding-places, and hardly even crying when flushed. The flight of 
the Woodcock is wonderfully swift, although the wings do not appear to 
move very fast ; and the bird has a custom of jerking and dodging about so 
quickly when it sees the sportsman, that it often escapes his shot. One bird, 
mentioned by Mr. Thompson, used to baffle an experienced sportsman by 
always feeding near an archway, and slipping through it before the gun could 
be brought to bear. 
The nest of the Woodcock is made of leaves—those of the fern being 
favourites—closely laid together, but without any particular skill in arrange- 
ment, and without lining. The full number of eggs is four, and their colour 
is buffy white with rusty brown blotches. 
THE JACANAS are found in Asia. Africa, and America. Their light bodies 
and widely extended claws enable them to walk on the leaves of aquatic plants 
