392 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



Genus SCOLOPAX, Brisson. 

 WOODCOCK. 



Scolopax rusticola, Linnasus. S.N., i., p. 243 

 (1766). 



The well-known Woodcock is not only a migratory 

 bird, but also a resident in Kent. The numbers are 

 greatly increased during the autumn and winter, and 

 many pairs remain and are found breeding in most of 

 the large open woods and pheasant preserves, especially 

 in East Kent. 



In 1776 Pennant, in his British Zoology (vol. ii.), 

 states that " they leave England the latter end of 

 February or beginning of March, not but they have been 

 known to continue here accidentally. In Case AVood, 

 about two miles from Tunbridge, a few breed almost 

 annually, the young having been shot there the beginning 

 of August, and were as healthy and vigorous as they are 

 with us in the winter, but not so well tasted. A female 

 with eggs was shot in the neighbourhood in April." 



Latham, in 1785, says : "A brace of them were shot 

 in Chillenden Wood by the gamekeeper to Horace Mann, 

 Esq., May 1, 1769, and another brace the day before ; 

 they were sitting on their young. A friend of mine met 

 with a female sitting on the eggs, and the male close 

 at hand ; she was so tame as to suffer him to stroke her 

 without rising ; this was in a wood near Farningham, 

 Kent ; and about three years since, in the same wood, 

 a brace of old birds, with five young ones in company, 

 full fledged, were found. Three of the young w^ere taken 



