THE WOODCOCK 217 



cover her eggs when she left them voluntarily, but I think 

 that such is very probably the case. But one bird is ever 

 seen near the nest, and once flushed the female generally 

 hurries off and hides herself amongst the trees, never dis- 

 playing any of those anxious feelings some of the Sandpipers 

 always express under similar circumstances. 



The Woodcock's movements in this country are somewhat 

 perplexing to the naturalist. Many observers are inclined to 

 think that the birds which breed in our British woods leave 

 this country for more southern haunts in autumn, returning 

 in spring ; and that the birds we meet in winter are migrants 

 from more northern regions, which just as surely desert this 

 country in spring. There can be no doubt, however, that our 

 breeding Woodcocks are residents, and that the reason they 

 are so seldom met with in the late summer and early autumn 

 months is because these skulking birds have become more 

 skulking still while they undergo their annual change of dress. 

 The woods at these times are little frequented by man ; 

 the shooting season has not commenced ; and the shy w^ary 

 birds keep well out of sight, as most other species do when 

 moulting. The Woodcock only rears one brood in the season, 

 and both parents assist in rearing the young, which are some- 

 times carried by them between their legs from place to place 

 where food is plentiful. 



The flesh of the Woodcock is highly prized for food ; no 

 greater delicacy is to be found amongst all our game birds 

 and wild-fowl. It is therefore a bird highly and justly 

 esteemed by sportsmen. How quickly the plump long-billed 

 bird flies for his life through the brown autumn woods, or 

 amongst the snow-clad trees in winter, his appearance being 

 the signal for the lusty shouts of " mark cock " from the line 

 of advancing beaters. A beater I knew, who was in the 

 habit of occasionally attending the late Duke of Portland 

 through the charmin" woodlands of the " Dukeries " at Sher- 



