44 



WOODCOCK. 



The young Woodcocks of a week or ten days old are covered 

 with down of a brownish white color, and are marked from the 

 bill along the crown to the hind head with a broad stripe of deep 

 brown; another line of the same passes through the eyes to the 

 hind head, curving under the eye; from the back to the rudiments 

 of the tail runs another of the same tint, and also on the sides un- 

 der the wings ; the throat and breast are considerably tinged with 

 rufous ; and the quills, at this age, are just bursting from their 

 light blue sheaths, and appear marbled as in the old birds ; the 

 legs and bill are of a pale purplish ash color, the latter about an 

 inch long. When taken, they utter a long, clear but feeble peep^ 

 not louder than that of a mouse. They are far inferior to young 

 Partridges in running and skulking; and should the female un- 

 fortunately be killed, may easily be taken on the spot. 



