THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
without, but are the very nature and constitution of the 
beings that appear to obey them. It is this which makes 
nature so wonderful, which so stamps upon it the impress 
of an almighty Creator: — its parts and phenomena are mil- 
lions; the primary power that puts all in motion, is but 
One. 
These reflections have been a little extended, because 
they are often in danger of being overlooked; and because 
the tranquil shore of an expansive lake is one of the best 
scenes for contemplation, — one at which the several ele- 
ments and their inhabitants are more easily brought to- 
gether than at almost any other. But it is not the broad 
expanse of water, with its mountains and its majestic 
scenery, that is alone worthy of our contemplation. The 
mountain tarn , which gleams out in the bosom of some 
brown hill or beetling rock, like a gem in the desert, when 
one does not expect it; — the sheet of glittering water amid 
encircling forests; and the shelving pool amid undulated 
green hills, with its margins alternating of white marie, 
clean pebbles, and sedgy banks, have all their beauty and 
their respective inhabitants. It is true that the osprey and 
the fishing-eagle do not there display their feats of strength, 
and the wild swan does not bring forth her young, or even 
often visit; but our old friend the heron is there, and she 
finds new associates with whom she can dwell in peace. 
British Naturalist. 
WOODCOCK. 
SCO LOP AX MINOR. 
[Plate XIV.] 
Arct. Zool. p. 463, No. 365. — Turt. Syst. 396. Scolo- 
pax minor, Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 714, No. 2. Gen. Syn. 
3, p. 131. — J. Doughty’s Collection. 
This bird is universally known to our sportsmen. It 
arrives in Pennsylvania early in March, sometimes sooner; 
and I doubt not but in mild winters some few remain with 
us the whole of that season. During the day, they keep to 
the woods and thickets, and at the approach of evening seek 
the springs, and open watery places, to feed in. They soon 
disperse themselves over the country to breed. About the 
beginning of July, particularly in long-continued hot 
weather, they descend to the marshy shores of our large 
rivers, their favourite springs and watery recesses, inland, 
being chiefly dried up. To the former of these retreats 
they are pursued by the merciless sportsman, flushed by 
dogs, and shot down in great numbers. This species of 
amusement, when eagerly followed, is still more laborious 
and fatiguing than that of Snipe-shooting; and from the 
nature of the ground, or cripple as it is usually called, viz. 
deep mire, intersected with old logs, which are covered and 
hid from sight by high reeds, weeds, and alder bushes, the 
best dogs are soon tired out; and it is customary with sports- 
men, who regularly pursue this diversion, to have two sets 
of dogs, to relieve each other alternately. 
The Woodcock usually begins to lay in April. The 
nest is placed on the ground, in a retired part of the woods, 
frequently at the root of an old stump. It is formed of a 
few withered leaves, and stalks of grass, laid with very 
little art. The female lays four, sometimes five, eggs, 
about an inch and a half long, and an inch or rather more in 
diameter, tapering suddenly to the small end. These are 
of a dun clay colour, thickly marked with spots of brown, 
particularly at the great end, and interspersed with others 
of a very pale purple. The nest of the Woodcock has, in 
several instances that have come to my knowledge, been 
found with eggs in February; but its usual time of begin- 
ning to lay is early in April. In July, August, and Sep- 
tember, they are considered 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 mur- 
muring 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 favourite female. Their food consists of vari- 
ous 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 re- 
main 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 re- 
sembles the Woodcock of Europe, but is considerably less, 
and very differently marked below, being an entirely dis- 
tinct species. A few traits will clearly point out their dif- 
ferences. 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 fer- 
ruginous. The male of the American species weighs from five 
to six ounces, the female eight: the European twelve. The 
European Woodcock 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 
