210 
ALLEN 
’s naturalist’s library. 
Wood-cock seldom flies far ; as soon as it finds a suitable cover it 
drops suddenly into it as if shot. 
in this country the birds sit very close, and are difficult to flush, 
and may be found concealed under a hedge or ditch, or 
in a field amongst turnips or long dried grass. It is said th. t 
on migration they generally fly upward to a considerable 
height,^and that they have been seen to alight after an almost 
perpendicular descent. Much discussion has taken place as lo 
the way in which the Wood-cock manages to remove its young, 
as it is\nown to do. The late Mr. St. Joh" has stated that 
many Wood-cock carried their young ones down to the so(t 
feeding-grounds, and brought them back “gam to the shelter 
the woods before daylight, where they remained during he whole 
dav The nestlings are now believed to be carried between the 
fwghsoftte old bird, and held there b, the bill of the patent 
as it flies. 
Nest.— A depression in the ground, plentifully lined with leaves 
and dead grass. The species is an early breeder, and fresh tjgs 
are procured throughout a\pril, but they have also been found as 
early as the 3rd of March. Mr. Robert Read observes The 
Wood-cock will sit very closely on its eggs. I knew of a nest 
under a juniper bush, in a ptirk beside a path, which was m 
constant iLse, but the bird s.at there quite uodf urbed by the 
passers-by. 'bhe eggs are usually very rounded, but I have a 
Lt from Scotland quite pyriform, like those of other Limicolte. 
Eggs.-Four in number, and generally somewhat rounded. 
The ground-colour varies from stone grey to warm clay-brown, 
sometimes with a slight olive shade. The spots are reddish- 
brown, and they are sometimes clustered round the larger end, 
and form blotches. The underlying spots are purplish-gi ey, and 
are occasionally very large, and form as large blotches as the 
reddish overlying markings. Axis, i-6-i'85 inch ; diam., 1 5 
i'4- 
THE TRUE SNIPES. GENUS GALLINAGO. 
Gallinago, Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. &c. Brit. Mus. p. 30(1816). 
Type, G. major (Gm.). 
There are several differences betw'een the Snipes and 
Woodcocks ; the principal ones being the length of the inner 
