woodcock

Any of several woodland birds of the genus Scolopax found in Eurasia, Africa, and North America, having brownish plumage, short legs, and a long bill. The woodcocks are in the same family as the sandpipers and other shorebirds.

One of two distinct birds of the family Scolopacidæ, closely related to the true snipe (Gallinago).

The large black pileated woodpecker, or logcock, Hylotomus (or Ceophlæus) pileatus. See cut under pileated.

In conchology, a woodcock-shell: more fully called thorny woodcock. Also called Venus’scomb.

A simpleton: in allusion to the facility with which the European woodcock al lows itself to be taken in springes or in nets set for it in the glades.

The American woodcock, Philohela. minor: a book-name.

A woodcock-shell, as Murex haustellum.

Any one of several species of long-billed limicoline birds belonging to the genera Scolopax and Philohela. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits, and are highly esteemed as game birds.

Fig.: A simpleton.

The European snipe.