48 
LITTLE WOODCOCK. 
the side till he comes to a gateway, which he enters, 
and is caught. 
It has been remarked in England, that for several 
years past, Woodcocks have become very scarce. This 
is easily accounted for : Sweden, like other countries, 
is making a gradual progress in the arts of luxury ; 
among which the indulgence of the palate fills no 
undistinguished place. The eggs of wild-fowl have 
of late become a great delicacy among the inhabitants 
of that country, who encourage the peasantry to find 
out their "nests : the eggs of the Woodcock they are 
particularly fond of ; and the peasants offer them in 
large quantities for sale, in the market of Stockholm. 
From this practice it is not improbable that the breed, 
not only of this bird, but of several of the species of 
Grouse, will be considerably diminished, if not at last 
totally extirpated. 
It need scarcely be added, that the flesh of the 
Woodcock is greatly esteemed and much sought after, 
and, that nothing may be lost, the entrails are not 
drawn out, being thought a necessary appendage as 
sauce to the bird ! 
LITTLE WOODCOCK. 
(Scolopax minor.) 
Sc. castfineo nigi-o 7->ifot/ue varia subtiia Jlavesceiis, ore/pile ii/'gro, 
Jasciis quatuor transversisjlnvescentibus, Cauda nigra. 
Woodcock varied with chcsnut black and red, beneatlr yellowish, 
the occiput black with four transverse yellowish bands, the tail 
black. 
