20 
THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 
again from morning till night, and go on thus during the whole of the 
Woodcock season. 
Now and then, the American Woodcock, after being pursued for a con- 
siderable time, throws itself into the centre of large miry places, where it is 
very difficult for either man or dog to approach it ; and indeed if you suc- 
ceed, it will not rise unless you almost tread upon it. In such cases I have 
seen dogs point at them, when they were only a few inches distant, and after 
several minutes seize upon them. When in clear woods, such as pine 
barrens, the Woodcock on being put up flies at times to a considerable 
distance, and then performs a circuit and alights not far from you. It is 
extremely attached to particular spots, to which it returns after being dis- 
turbed. 
Its flight is performed by constant rather rapid beats of the wings, and 
while migrating it passes along with great speed. I am inclined to think its 
flight is greatly protracted, on account of the early periods at which it 
reaches Maine and New Brunswick: — I may be wrong, but I am of opinion 
that at such times it flies faster than our little Partridge. In proceeding, it 
inclines irregularly to the right and left at the end of every few yards ; but 
when it has been put up after having settled for awhile, it rises as if not 
caring about you, and at a slow pace goes a few yards and alights again, runs 
a few steps and squats to await your departure. It is less addicted to wading 
through the water than the Snipe, and never searches for food in salt marshes 
or brackish places. Rivulets that run through thickets, and of which the 
margins are muddy or composed of oozy ground, are mostly preferred by it ; 
but, as I have already said, its place of abode depends upon the state of 
the weather and the degree of temperature. 
The food of the Woodcock consists principally of large earthworms, of 
which it swallows as many in the course of a night as would equal its own 
weight; but its power of digestion is as great as that of the Heron, and it 
is not very often that on opening one you find entire worms in its stomach. 
It obtains its food by perforating the damp earth or mire, and also by turning 
the dead leaves in the woods, and picking up the worms that lie beneath 
them. In captivity. Woodcocks very soon accustom themselves to feed on 
moistened corn meal, bits of cheese, and vermicelli soaked in water. I have 
seen some that became so gentle as to allow their owner to caress them with 
the hand. On watching several individuals probing mud in which a number 
of earthworms had been introduced, in a tub placed in a room partially 
darkened, I observed the birds plunge their bills up to the nostrils, but never 
deeper ; and from the motion of the parts at the base of the mandibles, I 
concluded that the bird has the power of working their extremities so as to 
produce a kind of vacuum, which enables it to seize the worm at one end 
