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sN The Woodcock. Scolopax.
Numb. LXX.
ÍTS Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail is one Foot
and three Inches; Breadth when the Wings are extended two Foot one
Inch; Weight eleven Ounces and a quarter; the Bill is three Inches long :
It is Ibmething lefs than a Partridge', the upper Side of the Body is party
coloured of red, black and grey, very beautiful to behold; froria the
Bill almoft to the middle of the Head, it is of a rediih aih Colour; the
Breaft and Belly are grey, with tranfverfe brown Lines, under the Tail it is
fomewhat yellowifh;. the Chin is white with a Tin&ure of yellow; a
black Line on each Side between the Eye and Bill; the Back of the Head,
is moil black with two or three crofs Bars of a teftaceous Colour. The prime
Feathers in each Wing are about twenty three, black crofled with red Bars ;
the Feathers under the Wings are curioufly variegated with grey and brown
Lines; the Tail is three and three eight Parts of an Inch long, coniifting
of twelve Feathers; the Tips of them are cinereous above, arid white underneath;
their Borders or Outlides as it were indented with red; the remaining
Part black. The Bill is dark brown towards the End, near the
Head paler or Flefh coloured; the upper Mandible a very little longer
than the nether; the Tongue nervous, the Palate rough, and the Ears
large and open. The Eyes ftand further back in the Head than in other
Birds, that they may not be hurt when ihe thrufts her Bill deep into the
Ground; the Legs, Feet and Toes are of a pale dusky Colour ; the Claws
black, and the Back Toe very little, having alfo but a little Claw. The
Liver is divided into two Lobes, having a Gall Bladder annexed; the Guts
are long and flender, and have many Revolutions; the blind Guts are very
ihort. Thefe are Birds of Paflfage, coming over to England in Autumn, and departing
again in the Beginning of the Spring, yet they pair before they go,
flying two together, a Male and a Female; they frequent efpecially moift
Woods and Rivulets near Hedges; . They are fail both to come and fly
away in foggy Weather, and it is not rightly known where they go.
The Fleih of this Bird for Delicacy of its Tafte is in high Efteem, and
is preferred before the Partridge. Some Stragglers which by Accidentare
left behind, remain in England all Summer, and breed here ; their Eggs
are long, of a pale red Colour, and ftained with deep Spots and
Clouds.