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Genus SCOLOPAX. 



Scolopax, Brisson, Orn. v. p. 292 (1760). 



Busticola apud Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. iii. p. 348 (1816). 



This genus is represented in the Palaearctic, Oriental, and northern portions of the Ethiopian 

 Regions, one species (the type of the genus) being found in the "Western Palsearctic Region. In 

 the Nearctic Region it is replaced by a very closely allied genus, Philohela. 



The Woodcocks resemble the Snipes in general habits, but frequent wooded districts, 

 remaining all the day quietly hidden in the thickets if undisturbed, rousing themselves only 

 towards evening, and searching for food during the night only. They fly swiftly and well, and 

 flit rapidly through the bushes when flushed. Except during the seasons of migration they are 

 solitary in their habits, being found singly or else in pairs or family parties. They are silent 

 birds, except during the pairing-season, when they utter their peculiar call-note as they fly 

 backwards and forwards. They feed, like the Snipe, on insects, worms, &c, and probe the soft 

 soil in search of their food. 



They nest in the woods, placing their eggs in a bed of decayed leaves in some open place 

 in the forest or grove where there is but little underbrush. Four is the usual complement of 

 eggs, which are creamy buff or dark stone-buff marked and blotched with purplish grey and 

 dark brown. 



Scolopax rusticola, the type of the genus, has the bill longer than the head, straight, slender, 

 tapering, higher than broad at the base, both mandibles grooved nearly to the end, the tips hard 

 and obtuse, the upper mandible with a sulcate knob, into the depression of which the lower 

 mandible fits ; nostrils basal, linear ; wings rather long, broad, pointed, the first quill longest . 

 tail short, rounded ; legs short, stout ; tibia feathered to the joint; tarsus anteriorly scutellate ; 

 hind toe small ; anterior toes moderate, the centre one rather long ; claws short, slightly curved, 

 obtuse, that on the centre toe longer than the others. 



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