19 18. Workman. — The Migration of Woodcock. 93 



draw attention to Classiebawn and Castlegal which mark 

 the position of the property. 



The estate seems to be a splendid one for Woodcock, 

 and it affords excellent sport ; for instance, in January, 

 1892, 92 and 98 Woodcock were shot on consecutive days. 

 A very interesting point brought out in the article is a com- 

 paratively recent regular nesting in these parts of this 

 species. It appears quite certain that Woodcock nests 

 were considered the greatest rarity before the year 1875. 

 Since that date they have become more and more numerous 

 and on the particular breeding ground on this property 

 Woodcock nests were practically • unknow^n before the year 

 1900. 



In this connection from the records of Thompson^ and 

 of Moffat^ we may draw a general conclusion that Woodcock 

 did not breed in Ireland before 1833, gradually extending 

 their range till now it is reported from every county as a 

 breeding species. The case of Tollymore Park, Count 3^ 

 Down, mentioned by Thompson, is very similar to the rapid 

 extension on Col. Ashley's estate. In 1835 one nest was 

 found, in 1837 three nests, 1842 nine nests, 1843 twenty-two 

 nests, and from 1847 to 1849 not less than thirty nests each 

 season. 



One or two interesting facts are reached by Captain 

 Douglas's investigations. He states that no definite proof 

 of Woodcock raising two broods in the year has been obtained, 

 but all the keepers on the estate are of the opinion that this 

 occasionally happens. Readers of Thompson will remember 

 that the keeper in Tollymore Park, County Down, considered 

 that Woodcock nested twice in the season, for he observed 

 them on their nests from February to July. It would be 

 interesting if Captain Douglas would give this point his 

 careful consideration and publish the result of his observa- 

 tions in his next paper. 



Ringing experiments were commenced in the year 

 19 10, and have been carried on every year since. Since 1912 



2 Natural History of Ireland, vol. iii., page 2^2. 

 Irish Naturalist, 1899, page log. 



