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of evenings, or very mifty weather: in general proceed inland
immediately on their arrival; but Ihould the wind be againft
them, and the pafiage over difficult, take a day’s reft on the
firft land they make, and in this cafe have been met with fo fatigued
as to be taken by the hand. About the middle of March
all tend towards the coafts for their departure; but if the wind
be not favourable for their flight, multitudes are collefted ton-ether,
and the fportfman, availing himfelf of the circumftance,
finds plenty o f fport. Though Woodcocks in general leave this
kingdom, yet a few are known every year to remain : Mr. Pennant
mentions that a few breed in Cafe Wood near Tunbridge annually :
a brace of them were fhot in Chellenden Wood, by the game-
keeper to Horace Mann, efquire, May r, 1769, and another brace
the day before; they were fitting an their young. A friend, of
mine met with a female fitting on the eggs, and the male clofe at
hand; ffie was fo tame as to fuffer him to ftroke. her without
riling; this was in a wood near Farrdngham, Kent: and about
three years fince, in the fame wood, a brace of old birds, with
five young ones in company, full fledged, were found ; three of the
young were taken, and given to a lady in the neighbourhood ;
one of them foon died, and is now in my pofleffion : other in-
ilances alfo have been noticed by authors. They are ftupid birds,
and often taken in nets placed at the openings where they come
out of the woods and return to them of evenings, which they do
in particular paths; they are alfo caught in fpringes placed on the
ground, or near it, fometimes by the legs, at other times by the
neck; for, as thefe birds will not walk over the leaft obftacle which
projects in their way, it is ufual to place a range of ftones, and
in the avenues between to let fpringes,. by which, means many are
often
S N I P E .
often taken. Thefe birds are found alfo in the warmer parts of
Europe, as well as Africa and Afia; in France, Italy, Greece, and
Barbary 5 on the Gold Coaft, and that of Guinea j as well as in
China and Japan: in thefe places inhabit the plains in the winter,
retiring in fummer to the fummit of the higheft mountains
to breed. To the north inhabit Sweden and Rujfta throughout,
and Kamtfchatka, as well as Iceland; hence a general inhabitant of
the old continent, and its ifles. Few need be told that its flelh
is delicious, and much fought after; and, that nothing may
be loft, the entrails are not drawn out, being thought a necef-
fary appendage as fauce to the bird.
It makes an artlefs kind of neft on the ground, compofed of
a few dried fibres and leaves, generally againft an old ftump, or
great root of a tree : the eggs four or five in number, rather
bigger than thofe of a Pigeon, of a rufous grey, marked with
dulky blotches : the young run as foon as hatched, but, as they
cannot immediately provide for themfelves, the male and female
accompany them for fome time.
We have obferved three varieties : in the firft, the head of a
pale red : body white: wings brown. The fecond, of a dun, or
rather cream-colour: and the laft, of a pure white. Specimens
of which may be feen in the Leverian Mufeum, and in the collection
of 'Mr. Tunjtall.
Little Woodcock, Arft. ZooU p. 463.
Lev. Muf.
T E N G T H eleven inches and a half. Bill two inches and a
half long, the under mandible much the Ihorteft : forehead
cinereous: hind part black, with four tranfverfe yellowifh bars.:
S 2 from
V arieties;
LITTLE WOODCOCK.
Description.