62 
BRITISH BIRDS/ 
fcenery by which it is flieltered in its moift and fo*» 
litary retreats. The fportfman only, by being ac- 
cuftomed to it, is enabled to difcover it, and his 
leading marks are its full dark eye, and glofly fil- 
ver- white tipped tail. In plumage the female differs 
very little from the male, and, like moil: other female 
birds, only by being lefs brilliant in her colours. 
The flefh of the Woodcock is held in very high 
eftimation, and hence it is eagerly fought after by 
the fportfman. It is hardly neceffary to notice, that 
in cooking it, the entrails are not drawn, but roaft- 
ed within the bird, from whence they drop out with 
the gravy upon flices of toafled bread, and are re- 
lifhed as a delicious kind of fauce. 
The Woodcock is migratory, and in different 
feafons is faid to inhabit every climate : it leaves 
the countries bordering upon the Baltic in the au- 
tumn and fetting in of winter, on its route to this 
country. They do not come in large flocks, but keep 
dropping in upon our fhores fmgly, or fometimes in 
pairs, from the beginning of October till December. 
They mufl have the inflindive precaution of landing 
only in the night, or in dark mifly weather, for they 
are never feen to arrive ; but are frequently difco- 
vered the next morning in any ditch which affords 
flielter, and particularly after the extraordinary fa- 
tigue occafioned by the adverfe gales which they of- 
ten have to encounter in their aerial voyage. They 
do not remain near the fhores to take their reft 
