[ 3" 3 



ner, and that they continue to do fo till the month 

 of Auguft. 



They wait orr the fide of fome of the extenfive 

 woods in that neighbourhood, before day-break, for 

 the return of the woodcock from his feeding in trie 

 night-time, and always depend upon having a very 

 good chance of thus lliooting many of them. 



The Dantzickers, however, might be employed 

 the whole fummer near thefe woods in the day- 

 time, without ever feeing fuch a bird j and it feems 

 therefore not improbable, that it aiifes from our not 

 waiting for them at twilight or day-break, that they 

 are never obferved by Englifhmen in the fummer. 

 If this bird fhould, however, be feen in the night,, 

 it is immediately fuppofed to be an owl, which a 

 woodcock does not differ much from in its flight. 



To thefe reafons for woodcocks not being ob- 

 ferved, it may be added, that the bird is believed to 

 be abfolutely mute, . and confequently, never difco- 

 vers itfelf by its call. 



If it be ftill contended, that the neil or young 

 mud fometimes be Humbled upon, though in the 

 centre of extenfive woods, or large bogs, the fifkin 

 (or aberdavine *) is a much more extraordinary in- - 

 fiance of concealing its neil and young. 



The plumage of this bird is rather bright than' 

 otherwife ; and the fong, though not very plealing, , 

 yet is very audible, both which circumftances mould ! 

 difcover it at all times j yet Kramer -f- informs us, , 

 that, though immenfe numbers breed annually on. 



* Brit. Zool. p. 309. 



f Elenchus Animalium per Auflriam, p. 261 - Vienna?, 1756. . 



I the; 



