PHEASANTS AND WOODCOCK 241 



area now appears to be generally distributed, and 

 nests occur reoularly in Sussex and Middlesex, and 

 in Surrey even so near to the metropolis as 

 Streatham. It also breeds extensively in north 

 Lancashire and in Westmorland. 



From a sporting point of view the Woodcock is 

 treated entirely as a migrant, and the close time is 

 fixed at March ist — the date when the foreign 

 birds prepare to leave these islands. In considera- 

 tion of the large numbers which now breed in 

 Great Britain, this date should properly be changed 

 for an earlier one. The Woodcock is known to be 

 an exceptionally early breeder, and in March the 

 resident birds are already paired, and, in many 

 cases, engaged in nesting. St. John states that he 

 has found eggs as early as March gth, and there 

 are many instances of young fully-fledged birds 

 occurring in April. Bv parity of reasoning, there- 

 fore, the "cock" should be allowed at least as 

 much law as the Partridge or even as the Grouse. 



The nest of the Woodcock is usually a mere 

 depression in the dead fern- or oak-leaves, a few 

 fibres being drawn together to form a rude cup. 

 When a wood or coppice is available, the bird takes 

 advantage of the shelter from rain and wind, but 

 it appears to make little or no attempt at conceal- 

 ment. In the illustration it will be seen that the 

 site chosen is in quite an exposed part of the wood, 

 open to the eye of the passer-by, the adjacent under- 

 wood in which the sitting bird would be completely 

 hidden, being altogether ignored. It is a curious 

 fact in Nature that some birds, and most mammals, 

 exercise the greatest solicitude in securing seclusion 

 16 



