BOOK NOTICE. 3 1 



In proportion to their bulk, the appetite of the Woodcock is 

 enormous. Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey once gave a tame Woodcock a 

 large cupful of garden worms for his breakfast, and yet after swallow- 

 ing these he followed him about looking wistfully for further supplies. 



Besides worms, Woodcocks will feed on on all sorts of larvas or any 

 insects they can pick up. We have sometimes detected their presence 

 in a wood by seeing places where the dead oak-leaves had been care- 

 fully turned over in their search for slugs and insects. 



It is frequently asserted that Woodcocks are in wretchedly poor 

 condition on their first arrival, and scarcely worth powder and shot. 

 The contrary, however, is the case, a poor bird is the exception, 

 heavy birds in high condition the rule. 



Notwithstanding assertions to the contrary, it is really not possible 

 to distinguish the sexes by their plumage. Our author points out that 

 the tooth-like markings on the outer feather of the wing are absent 

 in the old birds of either sex, although very apparent in the young. 



Jan. 1887. 



