WOODCOCK. 559 
those parts than in the winter ; and each has a white streak from the 
base of the bill passing- down the neck on the edge of the black. 
It is more than probable that this and the spring-wagtail have been 
sometimes confounded. In the British Zoology mention is made of that 
bird remaining all the year in Hampshire ; probably taken from Mr. 
White’s Natural History of Selborne, p. 38, who says, wagtails, both 
white and yellow, remain with us all the winter.” And in the Naturalist’s 
Calendar, it says, p. 8, “ grey and white wagtails appear January the 
2nd again, p. 12, “ yellow wagtails appear from January 23th to 
April 14th.” It seems evident, therefore, this author did not dis- 
criminate the two species. In the Linnaean Transactions, i. p. 126, 
Mr, Markwick says, “ The white, grey, and yellow wagtails are often 
seen in the middle of winter, although the generality of them disappear 
in autumn,” From this account it should seem this bird was found in 
those parts during summer. We have, however, never had ocular 
proof that this bird remains with us in summer, and are inclined to 
believe the confusion of the species has given rise to the idea. 
In the northern parts of the kingdom,” says Selby, “ it is a regu- 
lar summer visitant, arriving in April, and retiring, with few excep- 
tions, about the end of September, or the beginning of the following 
month. Previous to its departure, it assembles in small flocks or fami- 
lies, which haunt the meadows, or bare pastures ; and, at this time, 
having acquired their winter’s plumage, the young and adults closely 
resemble each other. It commences nidification very soon after its 
arrival, usually in the stony bank, or a shelf of the rocky precipice that 
so often borders our nothern rivers. The nest is made of moss and 
dry grasses, lined with hair ; and the eggs, commonly six in number, 
are of a yellowish grey, blotched by a darker shade of the same colour. 
It produces two broods in the year ; the first of which is in general 
fledged by the end of May,” * It is a solitary species, frequenting 
watery places and clear and shallow streams, where it feeds upon various 
aquatic insects. 
WITCH. — A name for the Petrel. 
WITWALL. — A name for the Whitwall. 
WOOD CHAT. — A name for the Wood Shrike. 
WOODCOCK (^Scolopax rusticola, Linnaeus.) 
Scolopax rusticola, Gmel. Syst. 2. 660 Lath, Ind. Orn. 2. p. 713. 1. — Temm. 
Man. d’Orn. 2. p. 673. — FLem. Br. Anim. p, 105. — Raii, Syn. p. 104. A. 1. — ■ 
By'iss. 5. p. 292. 1. — La Becasse, Buff. Ois. 7. p. 462. 25. — Woodcock, Br. 
Zool. 2. No. 178. t. 65. — Ib. fo\. 119. — Arct. Zool. 2. p. 470. A. — Ib. Supp. p. 
68 Will. (Angl.) p. 289. t. 53. — Albin, 1. t. 70. — Borlas. Cornw. p. 245. t. 
24. f. 12 Lath. Syn. 5. p. 129. 1. — LewinsBr. Birds, 4. t. 156 — Wale. Syn. 
2. t. 136. — Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 14. — Rural Sports, 2. t. p. 434. — Bewick's 
Br. Birds, 2. t. p. 60. 
