146 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



check had been applied to the productiveness even of the 

 first laying of these Snipe and Woodcocks' eggs, and their 

 season abruptly (3rd May) put off. That is a point for the 

 physiologists to decide, and scarcely affects the chapter in 

 the life-history of the Woodcock which I am desirous of 

 trying to elucidate. 



Returning to the subject of the return of the Woodcocks in 

 spring, it is worthy of passing remark, that, however regularly, 

 and however abundant the birds may appear in Central 

 Scotland early in March, no such great wave of flight 

 appears to take place to the east of the narrow winding 

 tideway of the Forth, or rather I should say, no such 

 phenomenon has as yet been recorded, nor have I ever 

 succeeded in obtaining records or statistics of any such 

 return from anywhere in Fife south of the Ochils, and 

 we have some good observers living along that line, i.e. 

 south of the Ochils from near Alloa to the East Neuk. 

 Nevertheless, on occasions of phenomenal returns, I have 

 had abundant proof of their enhanced numbers or sudden 

 appearances from most covers between this place and the 

 south side of the river Forth, on Polmaise, Dunmore, and 

 Airth Castle grounds, and on the flat moss, which is partly 

 upon Dunmore, Airth, and Kinnaird. 



Now, the area within which the return of the Woodcock 

 is known and spoken of as a well-known annual phenomenon 

 of migration, I beg to define as stretching between the upper 

 estuaries of Clyde and Forth (spring return), or Forth and 

 Clyde (autumn), and including in breadth from the southern 

 boundaries of the watersheds of Tay with Forth, and the 

 southern boundary of Forth, so far as the area is included 

 between the Firths of Forth and Clyde (of the rest of the 

 Forth area I do not speak here). The expression, " return of 

 the Woodcocks," so far as I am aware, was originally and 

 solely used in that so-defined district. It may have been, 

 and may now be, used elsewhere ; but I have known of it 

 in Forth and Central Forth as long as I can remember, 

 and heard it so spoken of by our fathers. But I do not 

 recollect hearing it used anywhere else in Scotland until 

 perhaps occasionally much more recently. 



Now, of the further extension of the migrations, spring 



