I 
.^ .This erdature refts on it's foot as far as the joint 
of the leg, like others of the bear kind; and the 
• tail is covered with long coarfe hair, reddifii at 
the bafcj and black at the extremity. 
The Wolverene is about twenty-eight inches 
long; from the nofe to the tail ; and the wl)ole 
body IS cloathed with very long and thick hair, 
varying in colour according to the feafon of the 
year. It n a native of Hudfon's Bay and Canada j 
and, under the appellation of Glutton, is known 
in the northern parts of Europe and Afia, being 
v.hoiiy confined to the mofl; rigorous climates. 
It's voracioufnefs is without bounds; but it isfo 
fiovv, that i: can gain it's prey only by furprifc. 
It often lurVs in trees, and falls on fuch quadru- 
peds as pais below. It will faften on the fhoulders 
of a horfe, elk, or ftag, and continue eating a 
hole in»-o the body till the miferable animal faints 
through pain. It fearches for the traps intended 
for fables and other animals, and often antici- 
pates the viHts of the hunter. 
In a wild (late, the Wolverene is a very fierce 
animal ; and a terror to both the wolf and the 
beai-. It's fkin is highly valued in Kamtfchat- 
ka, where the women adorn their hair with the 
white paws appendant to it. In Siberia it will 
fetch about fix fl-iillings. The fur is likewife in 
high eftimation diroughout Europe ; but that of 
the north of Europe and Afia is blacker and more 
glolTy than what is imported from America, 
r WOOD-CHAT; the Lanius Minor Primus 
of Aldrovandus. A fpecies of butcher-bird, or 
fnrike, with a horn-coloured bill. The plum- 
age is whitifh at it's bafe. Above there is a black 
-line drawn acrofs the eyes, and then downwards 
on each fide of the neck. The head and the hind 
part of the neck are of a bright bay colour ; the 
* upper part of the back is dufky ; the coverts of 
the tail are grey j the fcapulars are white ; the co- 
verts of the wings are duflcy; the quill-feathers are 
black, with a white fpot at their bafes j the throat, 
breafl:,and belly, are of a yellowifli white hue; 
and the legs are black. 
Jn the female, the upper part of the head, neck, 
and body, are reddifii, tranfverfely ftriated with 
brown ; the lower parts of the body arc of a dir- 
ty white hue, rayed with brown ; and the tail is 
of a reddifii brown, marked near the extremity 
with duTky, and tipped with red. 
WOODCOCK; the ScolopaxRufi:icola of Lin- 
naeus. This bird is chiefly difi:inguiflied by it's 
fize, which is fmaller than the partridge ; and by 
it's colour, which is a variegation of black, grey, 
and reddifii brown; but the black predominates 
on the forehead. The quill-feathers are dufl<y, 
indented with red marks; and the belly is of a 
pale grey colour, variegated with tranfverfe ftreaks 
of brown. The beak is three inches long, dufi<y 
towards the extremity, and reddifii at the bafe j 
and the upper chap is fomewh at longer than the 
under. The tongue is flender, long, (harp, and 
hard pointed ; the eyes are large, and fituated near 
the top of the head ; a black line extends from 
the bill to the eyes ; the forehead is of a reddifii 
afli colour ; and the chin of a pale yellow. The 
tail confifts of twelve feathers, duficy or black 
on one. web, and marked with red on the other; 
and the tips arc afh-GolQured above, and white 
below. The legs and toes are livid; the latter 
being divided almoft to their origin, and having 
only a fmall web between the midtlle and interior 
toes. 
WOO 
During the fummer feafon. Woodcocks inha- 
bit the Alps, Norway, Sweden, Polifti PruOiai 
and the countries in the north of Europe ; from' 
whence they migrate, at the approach of winter, 
into milder climates, where the ground remains 
open, and adapted to their mode of fubfifi:ence4 
The period of their appearance and difappearance 
in Sweden exaftly coincides with their retreat 
from and arrival in Great Britaiui 
Worms and infefts are almofi: the only food of 
Woodcocks ; and thefe they fearch for, with their 
long bills, in foft fpongy grounds and moiit 
woods. They generally arrive in this country iii 
large flocks, taking the advantage of a fog, or 
the night: however, they foon feparate; ye?pa!!' 
again before they return to tlieir native haunts. 
They feed and fly by night; beginning their flight 
in the evening, and returning in the fame manner 
to their day retreat. 
Thefe birds leave England the latter end of 
February, or beginning of March; though they 
have fometimcs been known to continue here the 
whole year. In Cafewood,.near Tunbridge, a few 
are faid to breed annually. About the feafon of 
incubation, they are very tame. During the firfl: 
week of Odtober, a few fmall flocks are ufually 
obferved to arrive on the Sufiblk coaflrs ; but the 
greatefl:part do not vifit this kingdom till the 
months of November and December, and they 
always contrive to land after fun-fet. They are 
determined in their flight by the winds, and often 
arrive feparate and difperfcd. 
Before their departure, they flock towards the 
fea-coafi:, and if the wind be favourable, fpeediiy 
depart; butotherwife they lurk in the neighbour- 
ing woods, or among the Hng and furze"^ on the 
coafl:s, to wait the opportunity of a profperous 
gale. In a fimilar manner they are known to 
quit France, Germany, and Italy, making the hy- 
perborean regions their general fumme? rendez- 
vous. 
In the winter they are found as far fouth as 
Smyrna, Aleppo, and fome parrs of Barbary; 
and fome have appeared even in Egypt, whicK 
feetrts to limit their fouthern migrations. In 
Japan they are very common. 
Our fpecies of Woodcocks is unknown in North 
America; but they have a bird about half the' fize 
of the European Woodcock, in colours and con- 
formation aimofl: ejfaaiy the fame, except tliat 
it wants thfe bars on the breafi: and belly. 
Woodcocks are averfe to high flights, becaufe 
their dired vifion is imperfecfl ; and to this im- 
perfedion it is owing that they are fo eafily taken 
in nets fpread in their places of retreat : a very 
profitable, as well as amufing employment 
WOODCOCK-SHELL. An Englifli appel- 
lation for a Ihell of the purpura kind, to which the 
French: give the name of becafie. There are 
two fpecies, one prickly, and the other fmooth. 
The prickly Woodcock is an extremely beau- 
tiful and elegant fliell. It is of a yellowifti colour; 
it's beak isfurniftied with four rows of large and 
very long fpines ; and between thefe rows there 
are others much fmaller and fliorter. The body 
of the fiiell is furrowed, and very deep, adorned 
with a number of tranfverfe circular lines ; and 
both this and the clavicle are befet with feveral 
rows of long fpines. 
The fmooth Woodcock is alfo very beautiful, 
but much lefs than the former; and of a yellowifli 
colour, radiated with black aad ^rey lines. It is 
