627 



13 



former varieties are by far the rarest ; for there are comparatively but few instances on record of 

 black or blackish Woodcocks having been met with, whereas I find that many authors refer to 

 white or pied birds having been obtained, and I have seen several myself, but have never had an 

 opportunity of examining a black one. This black variety has on two or three occasions been 

 obtained in England ; and Mr. Collin states that one was shot at Lindeved, near Flensborg, in 

 Denmark, some years ago. Naumann, who says that white, yellowish white, straw-yellow, and 

 pied varieties are met with, does not speak of the blackish one, and apparently never saw or 

 heard of one. There is also a not inconsiderable variation in size. Hodgson separated the 

 Asiatic bird from the European Woodcock on account of a slight difference in size : but this 

 difference is certainly not of specific value ; for in Europe also the variation in size, in one and 

 the same country, is quite as marked. Many sportsmen believe in two distinct forms, the 

 smaller of which is said to have the dark markings more distinct, and the legs grey ; and this 

 supposed small form is called by the German sportsmen Steinschnepfe and Dornschnepfe, in 

 contradistinction to the usual name of Waldschnepfe, by which this species is known. In order 

 to show the variation in size, Mr. John J. Dalgleish has forwarded to me details of the weights 

 of Woodcocks shot at Gartincaber, near Doune, in Perthshire, between the years 1860 and 1870, 

 from which I see that most of the birds varied in weight between 11 and 12 ounces, but that 

 the heaviest weighed 14j ounces, and the lightest 7f ounces. 



The food of the Woodcock consists of insects and insect-larvse, and especially worms, of 

 which it devours large numbers. It collects its food amongst the old leaves, or in the meadows 

 or marshes, and especially in pastures, where, amongst the droppings of the cattle, it finds 

 numbers of worms ; and, like the Snipe, it bores the soft soil with its bill in search of food. It 

 feeds chiefly during the night, remaining quiet and concealed during the daytime. 



The specimen figured and described is an adult male, from Smyrna, in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, d . Leadenhall Market, b, $ . Leadenhall Market, London, March 31st, 1870. c. Colesborne, Gloucester- 

 shire, December 10th, 1867 (H. J. Elwes). d (young in half-down). Christiania, Norway, August 29th, 

 1871 {R. Collett). e,2juv. Majmaksa, Archangel, June 7th, 1874 (Piottuch), f. Crimea {Whitely). 

 g, d . Smyrna, January 9th, 1866. 



