WOODCOCK.
tin' stations with which I was in eorrespoml01100. Woodcocks, I ascertained, were considered by tlie men
particularly swift-flying birds, being frequently picked up on deck much cut and injured by striking ngainst the
lamps CIR ringing. The real cause of such mishaps must, I should imagine, be attributed to the weighty
condition or the birds at the time of the accident. I am aware that there are statements to the effect that
Woodcocks usually arrive singly or in small parties; llocks have, however, been recorded as seen approaching
the land. While steaming out through the Cockle gat towards the open sea one cold November morning in
] s70. just as day was breaking, a Hock of at least forty hoveriil for a few moments round the vessel, and then
heading towards the land disappeared in the gloom; unfortunately the guns were covered at the lime, ¡11
order to avoid the effects of salt air and damp, or several couple might have been obtained,
It is seldom that tins species or Snipe rccuver sufficiently from the effcels of a shot to rise on wing after
haviug been once knocked down ; a somewhat singular instance, however, of a Woodcock fly ing oil' after falling
apparently dead occurred sume years back at Calsiiebl, in Bast Susses. The beaters had almost eunipleted a
drive through a portion of a targe covert when a Cock, Hushed near the boundary, attempted to cross an open
stubble, on which I had been posted, towards another angle of the wood *. The bird presented the easiest
possible shot, and dropped, apparently as dead as a stone, on the open ground at the distance of about five and
thirty yards ; while opening the breech to insert another cartridge, my attention was attracted by an exclamation
from an attendant, and on looking up the Cock was again on wing and little the worse for the mishap,
continuing the course previously held towards the wood. A second time the bird was fairly hit and, several
feathers lieing left floating downward in the air, pitched headlong into a thorn bush at the edge of the covert.
Before entirely disappearing from view it again (as far us we were able to judge] recovered, and after a
momentary scuflle among the twigs and brambles twisted off through an opening between the branches of
two large oaks and was speedily lost to sight. As the heat was just concluded, both shots bad been distinctly
seen by a couple of keepers, who then came up, remarking they had never witnessed the like before. Perfectly
convinced that the Cock had eventually escaped, we proceeded at once to take up stations for the next drive, when
on passing the bush into which the second descent bad been made, a slight movement among some dead ferns
was observed, and on the spot being examined the bird was discovered in the last gasp in a dense tangle of
brambles and rank herbage. There could not be the slightest doubt from the actions of the Cock Hushed at
this spot that it had liecn struck by the falling bird the moment after rising from the ground, causing the
singular fluster observed, ami hading to the belief that our old friend was pcrJeclly invulnerable and had again
succeeded in making off.
As the notes in these pages relate simply to my own observations, I am unable to record uuy bags of
Woodcocks that can compare with the long lists mentioned by various writers. A few lines, however, extracted
from my journals concerning the sport obtained on two a-ions may not be out of place, ns certain facts
relating to the birds are briefly referred to ; though the lists aT slain are exceedingly short, the most captious
critic could scarcely complain of waste of ammunition.
During the continuation of the severe snow-storm in January 1S(J7, I bagged in Pevcnsoy Level, in a
couple of hours' shooting (the train had been snowed up and caused a delay in reaching the ground),
two couple of Cocks, four couple of Snipe, two brace of Partridges, and four hares: twenty cartridges
expended. The whole of the marshes were deeply covered with snow and the travelling exceedingly heavy;
the first couple of Cocks were Hushed from the rail way-hedge while crossing the line, and the second from a
patch of rushes which grew ou the open level a mile further inland. Just l>efore dark I marked a flock of six or
seven alight near a few stunted thorn bushes; but having to make a considerable circuit in order to avoid
a dyke, darkness would have set in before the spot could possibly have been reacbiil. Though the snow was deep
and drilled in patches, the frost was not excessively severe, and a few spots being still open in the slades
• A xjunrc Ml **• sumJiindetl urn three ud» by the wornl, my WattM Ma* ncu oiic tl His Mm,
WOODCOCK,
and about the springs Woodcocks remained in good condition. On the loth of September, lStl'J, during
the course of a few hours' easy walking along the shore of the Dornoch Birth, in the cast of Boss-shire, my bag
consisted of one couple of Cocks, ten brace of Partridges, and two hares : twenty-four cartridges ex|>c|[ded.
This was the first day or the season that Cocks had been seen in the vicinity of the coast ; the keeiw-r (who
ought to have been an authority) considered these birds the advance guard of the migrants that would shortly
arrive from the north. Small birds (Meadow-Pipits predominating in numbers) were swarming in the liehls
within a short, distance of the tilth.
An impression formerly existed that Woodcocks transported their unflcdgeil young from one spot
to another by lifting them in their licaks; this idea has lung since been proved a fallacy, and of late years
several writers, whose descriptions, however, differ considerably, have given their observations concerning this
singular operation. So many sportsmen and naturalists have recorded their opinions on this subject with such
assurance, that it is some slight consolation to learn that I am not the first observer who has failed to thoroughly
coiiiprchcud this remarkable performance. The following occurs in Thompson's ' Natural History of Ireland,'
" Birds," vol. ii. p. ; after giving a considerable amount of in fori nation gained from the keeper at Tullymore
Park, county Down, the author proceeds to slat'', with reference to this man : —" The keeper believed himself,
to have witnessed the old hen carrying oil' her young when suddenly disturbed. I'nder the impression of his
having been deceived in this matter, he several times followed hens apparently thus burtbeued to where they
alighted, and saw them run oil' without any young birds being there. It is, he says,' the body behind the wings,
the tail, legs, and feathers of the belly, that she droops down ¡11 a peculiar manner, that gives the appearance
of a young bird being clutched up.' He has sei era I times been quite near to birds presenting the appearance here
described," My own experience ou one occasion in Boss-shire, in June 1 -liil. was almost identical. A Woodcock,
whose singular flight attracted attention, leading to the belief that she carried a young one, was marked iluwii,
and on reaching the spot a few moments later no signs of the juvenile could he discovered ; well knowing it was
quite possible that a young Woodcock might escape detection by human eyes, a retriever accustomed to search
out downy nestlings was worked over the ground, but without success.
In Sussex, Perthshire, and Boss-shin' I have had many opportunities of watching the curious evening
flight or the old birds; in the two latter counties also the fact that the young were lifted and borne off on wing
up|H'ared on several occasions unquestionable. Being forced, however, to confess that I am unable to spcuk
with certainty as tu the manner in which the juvenile is grasped, the result of my observations (considering the
time and labour expcndcdl is far from satisfactory.
In a wooded ravine on the hill of Tarlogie, near Tain, a Woodcock (as far as I was able to judge) was twice
seen in the act of conveying its young. The following extracts from my notes of June lsftt) may
afford some explanation as to the dirliciilly of ascertaining accurately the manner ¡11 which the young one
is carried or (us some observers are inclined to believe) whether the whole idea docs not arise from
misapprehension f t Mill by the excited actions of the bird while endeavouring to draw the attention of
intruders from its brood.
While descending the bill towards the coast late one evening, after a hot and sultry day, our course
lay through a thicket of birch, fir, and abler; though the timber was by no means lolly, the cover was dense, a
deep shade being thrown into the gully. This sloping bill-side was admirably adapted for affording concealment
tu young buds—lulls of coarse grass sprung up ou all sides, while here and there dead leaves were blown
together in masses among the twining plants and brambles; a few patches of green moss also showed
conspicuously in the course of a liny streamlet, down which moisture drained from above. Having |>aused for a
few moments to listen to the jarring of the countless Night-Hawks just commencing their evening concert, a
retriever, hitherto following closely nt heel, drew slowly ahead, and, watching her actions, I became aware that
game of some sort was before us. The ground immediately in front dropped abruptly for ten or twelve feet—so