AY 0 0 D C 0 C K. 
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lay is early in April. In July, August and September, they are con- 
sidered in good order for shooting. 
The Woodcock is properly a nocturnal bird, feeding chiefly at night, 
and seldom stirring about till after sunset. At such times, as well as in 
the early part of the morning, particularly in spring, he rises by a kind 
of spiral course, to a considerable height in the air, uttering at times a 
sudden quack, till having gained his utmost height, he hovers around in 
a wild irregular manner, making a sort of murmuring sound ; then 
descends with rapidity as he rose. When uttering his common note on 
the ground, he seems to do it with difficulty, throwing his head towards 
the earth, and frequently jetting up his tail. These notes and manoeuvres 
are most usual in spring, and are the call of the male to his favorite 
female. Their food consists of various larvae, and other aquatic worms, 
for which, during the evening, they are almost continually turning over 
the leaves with their bill, or searching in the bogs. Their flesh is 
reckoned delicious, and prized highly. They remain with us till late 
in autumn ; and on the falling of the first snows, descend from the 
ranges of the Alleghany, to the lower parts of the country, in great 
numbers ; soon after which, viz., in November, they move off" to the 
south. 
This bird, in its general figure and manners, greatly resembles the 
Woodcock of Europe, but is considerably less, and very differently 
marked below, being an entirely distinct species. A few traits will 
clearly point out their differences. The lower parts of the European 
Woodcock are thickly barred with dusky waved lines, on a yellowish 
white ground. The present species has those parts of a bright ferru- 
ginous. The male of the American species weighs from five to six 
ounces, the female eight : the European twelve. The European Wood- 
cock makes its first appearance in Britain in October and November, 
that country being in fact only its winter quarters ; for early in March 
they move off to the northern parts of the continent to breed. The 
American species, on the contrary, winters in countries south of the 
United States, arrives here early in March, extends its migrations as 
far, at least, as the river St. Lawrence, breeds in all the intermediate 
places, and retires again to the south on the approach of winter. The 
one migrates from the torrid to the temperate regions ; the other from 
the temperate to the arctic. The two birds, therefore, notwithstanding 
their names are the same, differ not only in size and markings, but also 
in native climate. Hence the absurdity of those who would persuade 
us, that the Woodcock of America crosses the Atlantic to Europe, and 
vice versa. These observations have been thought necessary, from the 
respectability of some of our own writers, who seem to have adopted 
this opinion. 
Hoav far to the north our Woodcock is found, I am unable to say. It 
