THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY, 



JULY, 1837. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Observations on Woodcocks and Fieldfares breeding in 

 Scotland, By George Fairholme, Esq. 



In a paper signed W. L., in the Number for March last, of 

 your instructive Magazine, I find some remarks upon the 

 breeding of woodcocks in Selkirkshire, and in other parts of 

 Scotland. Having had an opportunity of occasionally making 

 some observations on the habits of these birds during the 

 breeding season, I beg to place at your disposal the following 

 notes upon the subject. 



It seems very certain, that some change has taken place 

 within the last twenty years, either in the countries towards 

 the north, where woodcocks usually breed, or in our own 

 climate ; as we can now no longer, as we used to do, attribute 

 a summer woodcock to the accidental circumstance of its 

 having been disabled at the usual season of migration, and 

 having been thus forced to act contrary to its natural migratory 

 instinct; for in some parts of Scotland they are becoming not 

 at all uncommon in summer. 



I spent the greater part of 1835 in Aberdeenshire, where 

 occasional instances have long been known of woodcocks in 

 summer, but not in such numbers as may now be seen. In 

 the woods of Moneymusk and Castle Forbes, nests have from 

 time to time been found. It was at the latter place, and 

 during a late evening walk in an extensive oak wood, with 

 hazel and other brushwood, that my attention was first par- 

 ticularly called to this subject. It was quite in the dusk when 

 I heard, at intervals, a low croaking so much like that of frogs, 

 that, attributing it to that cause, I took no further notice of 

 it: but on a subsequent evening I found that, instead of on 

 the ground, this croaking was over head, and proceeded from 

 a bird on the wing. The flight was so heavy and slow, that 



Vol. I. — No. 7. n. s, c c 



