394 RUSTICOLA SYLVESTKIS. 



April a boy brought him a young bird nearly fledged, he 

 remarks that it must be about the first bird to hatch in the 

 country. " A few years ago it was supposed that none re- 

 mained in Britain after the end of winter, except a few 

 wounded birds, which were unable to cross the sea to their 

 usual breeding-places. However, since the great increase of 

 fir plantations, great numbers remain to breed. In the 

 woods of Altyre and Darnaway, as well as in all the other 

 extensive plantations in the country, during the whole 

 spring and summer, I see the Woodcocks flying to and fro 

 every evening in considerable numbers. As early as six or 

 seven o'clock they begin to fly, uttering their curious cry, 

 which resembles more the croak of a frog than anything 

 else ; varied, however, by a short shrill chirp. Down the 

 shaded course of the river, or through the avenues and 

 glades of the forest, already dark from the shadow of the 

 pine-trees, the Woodcocks keep up a continual flight, passing 

 and repassing in all directions, as if in search of each other. 

 As the twilight comes on, in the open part of the country* 

 they leave the shade of the woods, and fly down to the 

 swamps and pools near the sea -shore and elsewhere to feed 

 during the night. When watching in the evening for wild 

 Ducks or Geese near the swamps by the shore, I have con- 

 stantly seen them pitch close to me, and commence feeding 

 in their peculiar manner. These birds must probably come 

 from the Altyre woods, the nearest point of which is at a 

 distance of two or three miles. In the evening the Wood- 

 cock's flight is rapid and steady, instead of being uncertain 

 and owl-like, as it often is in the bright sunshine. I con- 

 sider their vision to be peculiarly adapted to the twilight, 

 and even to the darker hours of night, this being the bird's 

 feeding time. In very severe and protracted snow-storms 

 and frosts I have seen them feeding at the springs during 

 the day-time ; but in moderate weather they pass all the 

 light hours in the solitary recesses of the quietest parts of 

 the woods, although occasionally one will remain all day in 

 the swamp, or near the springs on the hill-side, where he 

 had been feeding during the night." 



Several statements have been made, from which it would 



