SCOLOPACIN^E. rusticola. 
105 
above. Bill Half as long again as the head, straight, slen- 
der, tapering, subtrigonal, and higher than broad at the base, 
slightly depressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the 
groove extending almost to the tip, which is blunt and a little 
declinate ; lower mandible with the intercrural space very 
long and narrow, the sides grooved and sloping outw T ards, 
the tip thin and rounded. Mouth very narrow ; tongue long 
and slender ; oesophagus narrow ; stomach muscular ; intes- 
tine of moderate length and width ; coeca rather short and 
cylindrical. Nostrils linear-oblong, basal. Eyes large and 
placed high. Legs short ; tibia feathered to the joint ; 
tarsus short, compressed, scutellate ; hind toe very small and 
elevated, fore toes moderate, free, compressed, the lateral 
nearly equal, all scutellate in their whole extent ; claws 
small, compressed, little arched. Plumage close and firm, 
the feathers oblong and rounded ; wings of moderate length, 
broad, rather convex, broadly pointed, the first quill longest, 
the next almost equal, the rest rather slowly decreasing ; 
inner secondaries broad, and little elongated ; tail short, 
tapering, of twelve feathers. 
Habits essentially similar to those of the Snipes. 
208. Busticola sylvestris. European Woodcock. 
Plumage of the upper parts variegated with black, light 
red, and reddish-yellow; of the lower reddish-white, with 
narrow, transverse, undulating bands of dusky brown ; fore- 
head light grey, hind-head with broad transverse black 
bands. 
Male, 13 J, 24, 2 T S ¥ , 1 T 4 ¥ , 1 T \, T V Pemale, 14. . 
Arrives from the northern parts of the continent in the 
beginning of October, and is generally dispersed in Britain 
and Ireland, frequenting marshy places, brooks, and ditches, 
generally in woods or thickets, or by hedges. Its flight is 
more direct and sedate than that of the snipes. Being in the 
highest estimation as an article of food, it is shot in great 
numbers. Many pairs have of late years bred in the country ; 
but the number of those that remain in summer is very small 
compared with that of the emigrant individuals which take 
their departure in March and April. It is almost wonderful 
that so many should escape, seeing the number of dogs, guns, 
and gins, that are employed to capture them. It resorts to 
