72 The hish Nainralist. April, 



THE DETERMINATION OF SEX 

 IN THE WOODCOCK. 



BY R. F. SCHARFF, PH.D., F.I,.S. 



How to distinguish a male Woodcock from a female one bj" 

 means of external characters has often puzzled ornithologists, 

 and has led to a good deal of discussion. For in spite of the 

 most careful inspection by the trained ej^e of the naturalist, 

 no difference can be detected between them. Young 

 birds of both sexes appear to be lighter in colour than adults, 

 while the outer web of the primar}^ feathers has a distinct 

 series of fulvous notches. This has given rise to the belief 

 there are two distinct species of Woodcock. Some sportsmen 

 have maintained that the male birds are always heavier in 

 weight than the females. Others contend that the contrar}' 

 is the case. We have, therefore, no unanimity of opinion in 

 this respect, nor in the matter of size. In anj'- case, the 

 weight of a bird would not be a reliable test in distinguishing 

 the sex of a Woodcock, for it is evident that there must be 

 strong and heav}^ as well as feeble and light, birds among 

 both males and females. 



Lord Ardilaun requested me recentl)' to re-investigate the 

 problem of finding a reliable distinguishing character between 

 the male and female Woodcock, and sent me for that purpose 

 ten specimens which he had shot in his demesne at Ashford, 

 Co. Galwa}'. I was quite anxious to do so, as so many 

 naturalists had tried the same investigation and failed to 

 arrive at any definite conclusion. In order not to keep 

 ornithologists in too great a suspense, I may as well mention 

 that I did not succeed in my endeavour, but I think it may 

 be useful to place on record in the Irish Nahwalist the facts 

 revealed by my studies. 



After labelling the specimens, they were carefully weighed 

 by Mr. Nichols, who assisted me. As the right wing had in 

 every case been removed from the wrist, the weight of the 

 remaining left wing was added to that of the bird, so as to 

 ascertain the correct weight of the whole bird. We then took 

 very careful measurements of the length of the bill and the 

 length of the wing from the wrist, which I indicate below. 



