gum-arabic or tragacanth, and a proper quantity of oak-bark reduced to a fine powder, may be advantageously applied to tubs or casks, with a view to prevent farther leaking. But, on such occasions, it will always be more advisable to empty the vessels; and, after drying them, to use a cement, consisting of pitch, bullocks' blood, linseed-oil, turpentine, and the finest brick-dust, melted together in an iron pan: before, however, this powerful lute be laid on, all the crevices or chinks ought to be properly caulked, or filled up with tow or oakum.
Wood-ashes. See Ashes.
Wood-bine. See Honey-suckle, the Common.
WOOD-COCK, or Scolopax rusticola, L. a bird of passage, generally appearing in England toward the latter end of October, and retiring early in March.—It is about 14 inches in length, and, with expanded wings, 26 in breadth; the crown of the head, hind-part of the neck, back, and coverts of the wings, are beautifully marked with ferruginous red, black, and grey colours; though the breast and belly are barred with numerous transverse lines of a dusky hue.
Wood-cocks, on their first arrival, take up their residence in copses of 9 or 10 years growth; but seldom continue in one place longer than 12 or 15 days. They subsist on worms and insects, which their long bills enable them to extract from soft grounds, and moist woods. In the evening, these birds repair to pools and springs, whence they retire to open fields and meadows, for the remainder of the night. The sportsman may, therefore, with advantage, take his stand in those narrow passes on the borders of woods, communicating with streams; or, he may watch these fowls about the close of the evening, near the pools which they frequent.
As an article of food, the wood-cock affords, to the luxurious, one of the most delicious dishes: its flavour is considered superior to that of the Partridge.
Wood-louse. See Slaters.
WOOD-PECKER, or Picus, L. a genus of birds comprising 10 species, 4 of which are frequently met with in Britain: the following of these are the most remarkable.
1. The viridis, or Green Wood-pecker, is about the size of a throstle; of a greenish-yellow shade; and feeds entirely on insects: its principal employment consists in climbing up and down the trunks or boughs of trees, which it perforates with such exactness, as if the holes were made with human art. After having sufficiently excavated an unsound tree, the female deposits 5 or 6 semi-transparent, white eggs; and the young brood are taught to ascend and descend trees, before they are able to fly.—These active birds are said to occasion great havock among bees, in the winter season.
2. The minor, or Least-spotted Wood-pecker, scarcely weighs one ounce, being only about 6 inches in length, and 11 in breadth: it is likewise a formidable enemy to bees:—in the winter, this bird frequents orchards, whither it resorts for the purpose of picking up the larvae of caterpillars, and other insects. It also builds its nest in holes of trees, previously scooped out with its penetrating bill; and is known in some parts ot England, by the name of hickwall.
