TItE WOOD-COCKS. 
209 
of migration. I remember an interesting instance of Wood- 
cock-shooting before breakfast, when Mr. Seebohm, Mr. Frank 
Nicholson, and myself started off for a walk among the slippery 
dkbris of rock which lies scattered round the base of Heligoland, 
when the tide is out. We threw stones into every likely-looking 
chasm in the rock, and were rewarded by seeing severalAVood- 
cock fly out from their concealment, and sail out sea-wards with 
an owl-like flight. In this way we procured several in the early 
morning. 
Mr. Howard Saunders writes : — “ During the day the Wood- 
cock rests in dry grassy bottoms, or beneath thick bushes, such 
as holly or laurel, but at dusk and early in the morning, especially 
during the breeding-time, the male persistently follows certain 
tracts along glades in woods — often called ‘cock roads ’ — 
uttering a deep as well as a whistling note. Similar routes are 
also traversed by both sexes on their way to and from their 
feeding-grouncls. Worms, when procurable, are devoured in 
almost incredible quantities, while beetles and other insects, 
small crustaceans, and even mussels are also eaten ; and I 
have watched a bird obtaining its food under circumstances 
which, if narrated, would not conduce to a taste for ‘ trail.’ Few 
birds exceed 15 ounces in weight, though such are on record.” 
During the day, says Mr. Seebohm, the Wood-cock fre- 
quents the outskirts of woods and forests where there is 
plenty of cover under which it can lie concealed. In the 
evening it seeks the marshes to feed, but even under the 
protection of the shades of twilight it is still very cautious 
in exposing itself to view, and prefers swampy ground, either 
in the forest or in open places abounding with brushwood and 
rank vegetation. In its winter quarters, in India, it is described 
as avoiding stagnant swamps, and only frequenting those where 
running water is to be found. When disturbed during the day it 
rises with a whirring sound, occasionally, but not always, utter- 
ing a cry which resembles that of the Common Snipe, which 
may be represented by the syllable skaych. When fairly on 
the wing, its flight is much slower than that of the Common 
Snipe. The bill is alw.ays pointed considerably downwards, as 
though it were too heavy to be held out straight ; the wings are 
bent, and the general direction of the flight is straight, but oc- 
casionally it is varied with curious twists and twinings. The 
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