210 The Irish Naturalist. November, 
and no trace of their occupants. I often wonder if this is 
done in every case, or only when the old bird knows that 
her nest has been discovered. 
At the moment of writing (March 17), there appeared to 
be more Woodcock in this place than there have been all 
the winter. They are all paired and fly about in the even- 
ings uttering the breeding note, which is quite distinct 
from the " croak " they make at other seasons. These 
birds we look upon as responsible for the stock we may 
expect next season. I have no doubt some are nesting 
already, as this is, apparently, an early season. 
I have known 3'oung Woodcock hatched off the second 
week of March, and three years ago I knew of a bird hatching 
eggs as late as August 12th. As Woodcock mature very 
rapidly I am inclined to believe that each pair rears more 
than one brood in the season. 
' At " Classiebawn," Mr. W. Ashley's place in this county, 
his keepers have put rings on quite a large number of W^ood- 
cock during the last two or three years. They have better 
facilities for finding them than we have here, as some of 
the woods they nest in are less liable to heavy undergrowth, 
and the birds are more easily found. They put rings on 
50 last spring, and on 48 the year before. Of these, nineteen 
have subsequent^ been accounted for, and beyond one of 
their birds that was shot here, I have not heard of any of 
their ringed birds being got outside their own covert^. 
The accepted theory amongst many sportsmen, is, that 
the birds that are bred here go away, and that possibly 
some may return. I admit that some may, and do leave 
us, but from my own observations, and from those of others 
better quahfied to give their opinions than I am, I beheve 
that most of the birds bred here remain with us all through 
the year. There is not a month during which plenty of 
Woodcock cannot be seen here ; sometimes they are in the 
old woods, sometimes in spinneys, and sometimes on heather. 
Where they are depends on the time of the year, and the 
conditions of weather. 
Hazlewood, Sligo. 
