THE AVADERS. 



267 



To the greater part of these islands the Eecl- necked 

 Phalarope is only a spring or autumn visitor on migra- 

 j, , tion, and in Ireland it has occurred only once, 



necked A few still breed in the Scottish isles. Like 

 Phalarope. ^]^g last bird, than which it is rather 

 smaller, it has curiously lobed toes, and, like it also, 

 the female is the handsomer bird. The bill is pro- 

 portionately longer and more slender. Eggs^ 4, i inch ; 

 greenish, with black blotches. 



In sf)ite of the fact of the Woodcock breeding, more than 

 ever of late years, in almost every part of these 

 islands, it seems more desirable to regard it 

 as a winter visitor, so familiar, to all at any rate who 



tWoodcock. 



'•y 



j 



have resided on the north-east coast in autumn, are the 

 return " flights." The birds leave again for Scandinavia in 

 early spring, though, as above mentioned, a large number 

 remain to breed. A number nest annually in Hampshire, 



