244 
WOODCOCK. 
exhausted. During such times, the bird, in escaping from one 
enemy, has often to encounter another not less formidable. 
Eels and cat-fish swarm in every direction prowling for prey, 
and it is ten to one if a wounded Rail escapes them. I myself 
have beheld a large eel make off with a bird that I had shot, 
before I had time to pick it up ; and one of my boys, in 
bobbing for eels, caught one with a whole Rail in its belly. 
cc I have heard it observed, that on the increase of the moon 
the Rail improves in fatness, and decreases in a considerable 
degree with that planet. Sometimes I have conceited that 
the remark was just. If it be a fact, I think it may be 
explained on the supposition that the bird is enabled to feed 
at night, as well as by day, while it has the benefit of the 
moon, and with less interruption than at other periods.” 
I have had my doubts as to the propriety of classing this 
bird under the genus Rallus. Both Latham and Pennant call 
it a Gallinule ; and when one considers the length and for- 
mation of its bill, the propriety of their nomenclature is obvious. 
As the article was commenced by our printers before I could 
make up my mind on the subject, the reader is requested to 
consider this species the Gallinula Carolina of Dr Latham. 
WOODCOCK. — SCOLOPAX MINOR. — Plate XLVIII. Fig. 2. 
Arct. Zool. p. 463, No. 365. — Turt. Syst. 896 Lath. Syn. iii. 131. 
R USTICOLA MINOR. — Vieillot. * 
Rusticola minor, Vieill. Gal. des. Ois. 242. — Great Red Woodcock, Scolopax 
Americana rufa, Bart. Trav. p. 292 — Scolopax Rusticola minor, Bonap. Synop. 
p. 331. — Monog. del Gen. Scolopax Osser. sulla, 2d ed. del Reg. Anim. Cuv. 
This bird, like the preceding, is universally known to our 
sportsmen. It arrives in Pennsylvania early in March, some- 
times sooner ; and I doubt not but in mild winters some few 
* Among many natural groups, such as Scolopax of Linnseus, there are 
gradations of form which have not been thought of sufficient importance to 
constitute a genus, but have been mentioned as divisions only. Such is the 
