A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

George Montagu

Date:: 1866

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Wlgeon, Greatheaded.—See Pochard. Wigeon, Pheasant-tailed. — See Duck, Longtailed. Wigeon, Pied.—See Garganey, and Gold- en Eye. Wigeon, Redheaded.—See Pochard. Wigeon, Ringeyed Diving. — See Duck, Scaup. Wigeon, Tufted.—See Duck, Tufted. Wigeon, Vareheaded.—See Pochard. [Wild Duck. Wild.] See Duck, Common or [Wild Goose.—See Goose, Grey-lag.] [Wild Swan.—See Swan, Whistling.] Willock.—See Auk, Eazorhilled; Puffin ; and Guillemot. Willowhiter.—See Titmouse, Blue. [Willow Locustelle. — Gould gives this name to Savi’s Warbler.] [Willow Warbler. — Yarrell and others give this name to the Yellow Wren of Montagu.] [WUlow Wren.— Be-ndck gives this name to the Yellow Wren of Montagu.] [Wilson’s Petrel.—See Petrel, WUson’s]. Windhover.—See Kestrel. [Wind Thrush.]' Windle. Winnard. See Eedwing. [Winter, Gull.—hlontagu gives this name to the young of the Common Gull. See Gull, Winter.] Winter Mew.—See Gull, Winter. Witwall.—See Woodpecker, Greater Spot- ted. Wood-Chat.—See Shrike, Wood. Woodcock. — [ Yarrell, iii. 1.; Ilewitson, xevi. 348.] Scolopax rusticola, Lin. Syst. i. p. 243, 0; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. COO; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 713, 1. Rural Sports, ii. t. p. 382 434; Bewick, Br. Birds, ii. t. p. 60. Soo- lopax, Raii Syn. p. 104, A. 1; Will. p. 213, t. 53 ; Bris. v. p. 292, 1; Ib. 8vo, ii. p. 284. La Becasse, Biif. vii. p. 462, t. 25. Wood- cock, Br. Zool. ii. No. 178, t. 05; Ib. fol. 119 ; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 470, A.; lb. Sup. p. 68; Will. Angl. p. 289, t. 53; Albin, i. t. 70; Borlas. Comw. p. 245, t. 24, f. 12 ; Lath. Syn. v. p. 129, 1; Lewln, Br. Birds, iv. t. 150; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 130; Pult. Cat. Dorset, id. 14.—This well-known species of Snipe needs little description. The length is fifteen inches; weight from twelve to fifteen ounces. The bill is about three inches long, furrowed along the side of the upper mandible. Forehead cinereous ; the rest of the upper parts of the bird is a mixture of ferruginous, black, and grey, disposed in bar’s; the under parts are yel- lowish white, with dusky streaks ; the tail consists of twelve feathers, black on the inner web, the outer bordered with rufous; tips above cinereous, beneath white. This bird is subject to great variety; some are very dark-coloured and small, others are large and the plumage much more rufous. These have been thought two different sexes, but without foundation. Tho Wood- cock appears first in the beginning of Oc- tober, some few the latter end of Septem- ber, but never in quantity till the middle of November. They generally come to us with northerly or easterly winds, when the more northern countries become frozen; and if the frost in those countries where they breed is suddenly severe, large flights are sometimes met with on our coasts, where they remain for one day to recruit their sti’ength, and then disperse. With us it is not near so plentiful as foi’merly, when the ai’t of shooting flying was less practised; a great many, however, are yet to be found in the more uncultivated pai’ts of Devonshire, Cornwall, and Wales, as W’ell as in the North of Scotland; but nowhere so plentiful as in the large tracts of woods in Ireland. In severe weather (hey accumulate from the moors and in- land counties to the woods in the West of England. It is amongst the few winter birds that occasionally breed with us, many instances of which are recorded. The young birds have been killed in Au- gust, and eggs taken in June, both of which we can speak of from our own knowledge. In the year 1795 we were favoured with two eggs from the Eev. Mr. Wheateai’ of Hastings, who informed us they were found in a wood near Battel in Sussex, and that there were four in the nest. These are larger than those of a Pigeon, of a yellowish white, spotted and blotched ■\vith rufous-brown and ash-colour, most so at the lai'ger end. The food of this bird is insects and worms, for which$