246 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



hit upon the bold and original expedient of picking 

 up the young bodily and carrying them clean out 

 of danger ? Tiie fact that the Woodcock does so 

 has long been observed, but how has been a puzzle 

 to naturalists for generations. Like the " drum- 

 ming " of the Snipe, it has been the occasion of 

 great and even bitter controversy. For a long time 

 the confident man held the field — " The Woodcock 

 carries its young in its bill." Gilbert White 

 plainly has his " doots." Then comes the second 

 confident man — " The AA'oodcock carries its young 

 in its claws." Again there are "doots." 



Nor is the burning question finally settled. 

 Scientific opinion, however, leans to the belief that 

 the Woodcock carries its young neither in its claws 

 nor its bill, but that the nestling is pressed against 

 the breast of the parent, and the long, slender legs 

 are brought up tightly by way of support. 



