BRITISH BIRDS 



forest, already dark from the shadow of the pine trees, the Woodcocks keep up a 

 continual flight, passing and repassing in all directions, as if in search of each 

 other. As the twilight comes on, in the open parts of the country, they leave the 

 shade of the woods and fly down to the swamps and pools near the sea-shore and 

 elsewhere, to feed during the night. ... In the evening the Woodcock's flight is 

 rapid and steady, instead of being uncertain and owl-like, as it often is in the 

 bright sunshine. I consider their vision to be peculiarly adapted to the twilight, 

 and even to the darker hours of night — this being the bird's feeding-time." 



Woodcocks eat enormous quantities of worms, grubs, and insects to satisfy 

 their ravenous appetite. 



THE GREAT SNIPE. 

 Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin). 

 Plate 65. 



This species, also known as Solitary or Double Snipe, visits our islands in 

 autumn, but never in any numbers, and is more frequently seen in the eastern and 

 southern counties than elsewhere in England, while it is rare in Scotland and in 

 Ireland. It breeds in the northern and north-eastern parts of Europe and in 

 Northern Asia as far east as the Yenesei, and migrates southwards in winter, when 

 it visits Southern Europe and Africa, ranging as far south as Cape Colony in the 

 latter country. 



The nest, consisting of a slight hollow in the ground among grass or rushes, 

 contains four eggs, in colour a greyish- or olive-buff, blotched and spotted with 

 deep brown and with purplish shell-markings. The food consists of worms, insects 

 and their larvae, and slugs. 



The late H. E. Dresser, in his Birds of Europe, quoting some notes from 

 Professor Collett, states that the Double Snipe " is chiefly a nocturnal bird. Not 

 only does it migrate at night, but it is in motion almost solely after twilight, when 

 its peculiar ' spil 1 or drumming takes place ; and it also searches after food chiefly 

 during this time of the evening, remaining quiet and hidden during the day time, 

 seldom or never taking wing unless flushed, but sitting well hidden amongst dense 

 grass. On the whole, it is an unsociable bird ; yet each pair has its own small 

 district, where they appear to take but little notice of their neighbours. They also 

 rise singly ; and it is one of the most uncommon occurrences if two are killed by 

 the same discharge. 



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