This fpecies varies much in colour and fize ; our figure 

 reprefents the ufual colour, but they are found much deeper, 

 as well as paler coloured, and fometimes quite white ; it ge- 

 nerally appears in this country the latter end of September or 

 beginning of October, but is not ufually met with in abundance 

 till towards the end of November ; we noticed three expofed 

 for fale in Leadenhall-Market during the firft week of the 

 prefent month, October. 



The Woodcock but rarely breeds with us, though now and 

 then fuch an inftance occurs. Mr. Bullock has in his col- 

 le&ion.a young one taken in Suffolk ; there were two birds 

 in the neft, but one efcaped ; the young are covered with a 

 thick down or fur, which round the neck is very long and 

 pendant ; at firft fight the young bird has much the appear- 

 ance of a Bittern in minature, as its bill is long in proportion 

 to its fize. The Woodcock lays four eggs of a grey colour, 

 marked with alii coloured and brown fpots ; thofe we have 

 examined from the fame neft are very different in their 

 markings, in fome the fpots are fo confluent, that they 

 ihould rather be faid to be blotched with dufky white ; the 

 neft is ufually placed in a thick coppice, immediately op- 

 pofite fome little break, its form and texture is very loofe, 

 it is compofed of dry grafs and fibres, with a few decayed 

 leaves placed at the bottom; the young run as foon as ex- 

 cluded, but the parents continue their attention till they are 

 quite able to provide for themfelves. 



On its firft arrival, this bird remains on the coaft for a day 

 or two to recruit its ftrength, and then returns to its favourite 

 haunts of the preceding year ; when firft roufed its flight is 



fome- 



