1899] Moffat. — The Woodcock as an Irish breediiig Bird. 11 1 



hyland, on the 31st of March. The bird, at that date, had 

 already begun hatching on her full complement of four eggs, 

 of which, however, one was soon afterwards removed and 

 transferred to a collection. From April 12th I frequently 

 visited the nest, wishing to note the date of emergence of 

 chicks. On the 17th, at 6 in the evening, the three eggs were 

 still in the nest, and showed no signs of being near the 

 hatching-point ; and the iSth was so wet that I omitted to 

 pay my customary visit. On the morning of the 19th April, 

 the female, as I approached, sat closer than had been her 

 wont, and on her rising I was almost immediately struck with 

 a curious yellowish object that seemed to hang from between 

 her legs. The bird's flight was slower than usual, and her 

 long bill was plainly seen to be directed forwards, in the 

 ordinary attitude, and not in any way used to steady or support 

 the object carried. Having flown about 60 yards, she dropped 

 with her burden among the brambles and bracken. I then 

 looked into the nest. There, in place of the three eggs, sat 

 two down3 T Woodcocks, each covering so as to completely 

 conceal the shell from which it had emerged ; and beside 

 them was the shell of the third egg, empty and flattened 

 whose chick I had just seen the parent carrying away. 



Other engagements prevented my awaiting the bird's 

 return, but at night I revisited the nest, and, striking a light 

 over it, saw only the three squashed egg-shells. The young 

 had all been removed, and the nest was never occupied 

 again. 



Most previous observations of the Woodcock carrying her 

 young seem to have been casual, but it would appear from the 

 foregoing instance that anyone with opportunities of daily 

 visiting a nest might reasonably count on seeing the process. 



The parental care of the old birds does not cease when 

 their family are fledged, though it 4s difficult to accept some 

 statements as to the age at which the chicks continue to be 

 carried. A good observer of birds told me that in the 

 beginning of June, 1894, he saw an old Woodcock, whose 

 young could fly, tumble on the ground before him, " screaming 

 like a hawk," while the young made off. I have not seen this 

 habit elsewhere attributed to the Woodcock. 



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