198 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



these birds on the various lochs. The presence of Great Crested 

 Grebes on a loch in summer is not sufficient evidence of their 

 breeding there, as has many times been proved. E.V. B. and L. J. R.] 



Black-tailed Godwit in Forfarshire. On 3rd September 

 I had an opportunity of observing a fine specimen of the Black- 

 tailed Godwit on the seashore at Elliot. I watched the bird very 

 closely with the aid of a binocular from 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. 

 Though at first rather shy, it eventually allowed me to approach 

 within 25 yards or thereby. Having apparently just arrived from 

 oversea, it fed very eagerly on certain small marine creatures borne 

 up the sand by the shallow waves. Occasionally it bored its long 

 bill with a screw-like motion into the sand in search of worms, its 

 head being entirely immersed in the operation. After feeding, it 

 bathed in several inches of water, then very methodically preened 

 its plumage, and thereafter went to sleep for ten minutes, standing 

 the while on one leg with its beak inserted in the feathers of its 

 back. On awakening it picked up a few more morsels then 

 resumed its journey southwards, flying low over the water, its flight 

 resembling that of the Curlew. As recorded in the Report on 

 Scottish Ornithology in 191 6, I saw a specimen of this bird on 7th 

 September 19 16 at the same place and at the same hour of the day. 

 It went through exactly the same proceedings. Douglas G. 

 Hunter, Rosebrae, Arbroath. 



Woodcock and Young. I have been watching a Woodcock's 

 behaviour with her young with considerable interest of late. The 

 first nest with four eggs was destroyed, and this is her second effort, 

 which accounts for the lateness of the date. The best view I have 

 had of her was this morning (5th July 1919), before breakfast. My 

 retriever flushed her in some long grass in the bog-garden, and she 

 flew past me, only a few feet away, with legs hanging straight down, 

 the thighs pressed close together, and the tail spread out and 

 pointing downwards. She pitched on the grass walk a short 

 distance ahead, and when on the ground looked as if she were 

 brooding or hiding her chick. She let me approach quite close 

 when she rose and flew further down the path. Her flight was 

 exactly like that of a partridge or grouse with a broken back low 

 and undulating and in a very upright position. Three times I got close 

 to her on the ground close mown grass path but never a young 

 one did I see. All the time she kept up a loud screech. Her very 

 laboured flight and the extraordinary position of the legs and thighs 

 were what struck me most, and no one ever had a better view of a 

 Woodcock. James M'L. Marshall, Bleaton Hallet, Blairgowrie. 



