File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1883) (14565921557).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Woodcocks (White and Isabelle-colour^dj. throughout the year in the neighbourhood of such springs as do notfreeze. Solitary at other times, they pair in spring, building their neston the ground with grass and roots, placing it close to the trunk ofsome tree (the Scotch fir by preference, it is said), or in a holly-bush.The female lays four or five oval eggs, rather larger than those of apigeon. The young run about as soon as they are hatched ; the parentbirds guard them with careful solicitude, and manifest on all occasionsthe greatest love for their offspring. If any danger threatens, theold birds catch up their progeny, holding them under their necks bymeans of their beaks, and thus transfer them to a place of safety. These birds seem to feel an affection for places they have oncefrequented, so love to return to them; the following fact, at least,would lead one to think so. A gamekeeper, having snared a Wood- I
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THE PURSUIT OF THE WOODCOCK. 317 cock, gave it its liberty, after fastening a copper ring to its leg. Thefollowing year he recognised, by the help of this mark, the birdwhich had formerly been his captive. During ten months of the year the Woodcock is mute; but when theearly leaves begin to bud it is gifted with a feeble call—pitt-pitt-corr! The plumage of the Woodcock is remarkable for the harmonyof its shades; it is a happy mixture of brown, russet, grey, black,and white. It is not an unusual thing to meet with Woodcocks en-tirely of the latter—albinos of their kind. Others are arrayed in anIsabelle-coloured plumage; but white, with grey or brown mottlings,are their principal peculiarities. The Woodcock is very clean in its habits; for it invariably plumesand dresses its feathers twice a day. At morning and evening theycan be seen wending their course in rapid flight towards rivuletsor springs to bore for insects, quench their thirst, or to arrange theirtoilette. This Bird is fo

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