182 
PRfECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLA. 
much sought after by sportsmen. Their large size, their fine flavor, ancl the interest 
attending their pursuit, combine to render them attractive objects to the sportsman. 
The winter visitors to the British Islands usually appear early in October, and re- 
main there until March. It is said that they alway s arrive in the greatest numbers 
in hazy weather. They perform their journeys' at night; and it is supposed that 
those which appear in the northern counties of England have made their passage 
from Norway between sunset and sunrise. If the weather has been calm, the birds 
exhibit no signs of fatigue on their arrival, and generally come in excellent condition. 
They fly at a considerable altitude, and usually alight just at dawn of day. The first 
flight which arrives usually consists exclusively of females ; the subsequent and 
latest one of males. In evidence of the abundance of Woodcock in the eastern coun- 
ties of England, Yarrell mentions that no less than one hundred and sixty of these 
birds were shot on the estate of Lord Hastings, in Norfolk, in three days; and 
instances are on record where two hundred of them have been killed in a single day 
by one person. 
The Woodcock is of nocturnal habits, and reposes in the daytime, remaining hid in 
dry grassy bottoms, in woods, or among brakes, never moving except when disturbed. 
Toward night the bird goes by well-known tracks to its feeding-ground. These tracks, 
or open glades in the woods, are known as “ cock-shoots ” and “ cock-roads ; ” and in 
them nets were formerly suspended for the capture of the bird. The common earth- 
worm is the food they most eagerly seek; and in confinement they have been known 
to consume them in almost incredible quantities. Their mode of feeding, as observed 
in an aviary in Spain, is thus described by Daniel : “ There was a fountain to keep 
the ground moist, and fresh sod was brought to them, the richest in worms that could 
be found. The Woodcock stuck its beak into the ground, but never higher than the 
nostrils, drew the worms out singly, and, raising its bill in the air, it extended upon 
it the whole length of the worm, and in this way swallowed it smoothly, without any 
action of the jaws. The whole was performed in an instant, and the bird never once 
missed its aim.” 
A small proportion of these birds remain in England through the summer, and are 
very early breeders. Yarrell states that the young are usually hatched by the end 
of March or the beginning of April. On the 22d of April, 1838, Mr. Gould exhibited 
to the Zoological Society two young Woodcocks apparently three weeks old. The 
nests of this species, so far as known, consist wholly of dead leaves, chiefly of the 
common fern, loosely laid together, and without any lining. The young run almost 
from the shell. 
It appears to be a well-attested fact that the parent birds of this species, when 
their young — if not old enough to take care of themselves — are in danger, will take 
them in their claws and carry them to a place of safety. Yarrell cites several in- 
stances in which this curious performance was witnessed. White, in his “Natural 
History of Selborne,” discredits this statement; but it appears to be so well attested 
by so many trustworthy witnesses that it is unreasonable to doubt its correctness. 
The eggs of the Woodcock are said to be usually four in number. Their ground- 
color is a pale yellowish white, blotched and spotted with ashy gray and two shades 
of reddish yellow-brown ; these markings are most numerous around the larger end. 
The eggs measure 1.75 inches in length by 1.33 inches in breadth. 
