The Woodcock. Scolopax. ' ^ r^- 



. Numb. LXX. . 



ITS Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail is one Foot 

 and three Inches ; Breadth when the V/ings are extended two Foot one 

 Inch ; Weight eleven Ounces and a quarter ; the Bill is three Inches long : 

 It is fbmething lefs than a Partridge-, the upper Side of the Body is par- 

 ty-coloured of red, black and grey, very beautiful to behold ; from the 

 Bill alrnoft to the middle of the Head, it is of a redifh afb Colour; the 

 Breaft and Belly are grey with tranf\^erfe brown Lines, under the Tail it is 

 fomewhat yellowifh ; the Chin is white v/ith a Tindure of yellow ; a 

 black Line on each Side between the Eye and Bill; the Back of the Head 

 is moft black with two or three crols Bars of a teftaceous Colour. The prime 

 Feathers in each Wing are about twenty three, black crofled with red Bars ; 

 the Feathers under the Wings are curioully variegated with grey and brown. 

 Lines ; the Tail is three and three eight Parts of an Inch long, conlifting 

 of twelve Feathers ; the Tips of them are cinereous above, and white un- 

 derneath ; their Borders or Outiides as it were indented with red ; the re- 

 maining Part black. The Bill is dark brown towards the End, near the 

 Head paler or Flefh coloured ; the upper Mandible a very little longer 

 than the nether ; the Tongue nervous, the Palate rough, and the Ears 

 large and open. The Eyes ftand further back in the Head than in other 

 Birds, that they may not be hurt when fhe thrufts her Bill deep into the 

 Ground ; the Legs, Feet and Toes are of a pale dusky Colour ; the Claws 

 black, and the Back Toe very little, having alfo but a little Claw. The 

 Liver is divided into two Lobes, having a Gall Bladder annexed; the Guts 

 are long and flender, and have many Revolutions ; the blind Guts are very 

 fhort. Thefe are Birds of Paffage, coming over to England'ni Autumn, and de- 

 parting again in the Beginning of the Spring, yet they pair before they go, 

 Hying two together, a Male and a Female ; they frequent efpecially moiH: 

 V/oods and Rivulets near Hedges : They are faid both to come and fly 

 away in foggy Weather, and it is not rightly known where they go. 



The Flefh of this Bird for Delicacy of its Tafte is in high Efteem, and 

 is preferred before the Partridge. Some Stragglers which by Accident are 

 left behind, remain in England all Summer, and breed here ; their Eggs 

 are long, of a pale red Colour, and flained with deep Spots and 

 Clouds. 



The 



