EUROPEAN* WOODCOCK 55 



The principal summer home of the woodcock is the northern portion of the 

 Old World, for it is found extending frona eastern Siberia to the western 

 extremity of Europe. The woodcock nesting in Kamschatka migrate to Japan 

 with the advent of the cold weather, those frequenting Mongolia to China, 

 while those which have nested in westeBn Siberia and on the plateau of Tibet 

 move down to Burmah, India. Afghanistan, and Persia. Ouv own Winter 

 visitors are those hirds which have bred in Scandinavia, Finland, and per- 

 haps Russia. Those which press on south past our islands arrive in Pales- 

 tine, in North Africa, and in Egypt. Throughout Russia the woodcock is found 

 nesting, extending though in diminished numbers, as far south as the Caucasus 

 and the Crimea. It also breeds in central France and in northern Italy. 

 Some of its most distant nesting grounds are in Kashmir and Japan, while 

 it haa been found breeding in the Himalayas at the height of 10,000 feet. In 

 the Faroe Islands it has occurred as a passing visitor and has also been 

 recorded from Spitsbergen. 



Courtship. — The same writer refers to a nuptial performance 

 akin to the evening song flight of our woodcock, of which he says : 



Immediately after sunset the entire male woodcock population leave their 

 secluded haunts, and fly backwards and forwards over the same line of coun- 

 try, uttering a peculiar cry unheard except during the season of nesting. The 

 notes may be termed the song of the males, and are uttered by the birds pre- 

 vious to their departure for their feeding grounds in the evening. The song- 

 commences with grunting cries, ending up with a sharp and penetrating note 

 repeated maybe several times in quick succession, pisick, pisick. At times two 

 cock birds during their aerial maneuvers cross one another's path, and then 

 ensues a stern chase over the tree tops, the birds uttering repeatedly their 

 chirping cries. The " roding " of the woodcock never tnkes place before the 

 sun has set during the earlier part of spring, but at a more advanced period, 

 in May, the birds commence their evening flights rather earlier. The flighting 

 is continued till deep twilight has settled over the glen, but ceases before 

 night In the morning I. personally, have never heard this ''reding." lint it 

 is said to be recommenced before daybreak, and to cease previous to full day- 

 light. The woodcock when roding does not fly repeatedly over the same part 

 of the wood ; there is an interval between each of its appearances. 



It is said to pass over the same country three times in the course of the 

 evening. On the first, visit it flies high and usually fast; on the second 

 its progress is lower and more leisurely; while on the third and last the bird 

 moves just above the trees. 



Nesting. — In the southern portions of Great Britain the wood- 

 cock is a very early breeder, many birds nesting in March and some 

 in February. Late nestings in July indicate the probability that 

 two broods are sometimes raised, though this is unusual among 

 waders. Mr. Gordon (1915) describes the nesting habits as follows: 



The nesting ground is usually a wood, deciduous trees, being, I think pref- 

 erred, owing to the soft layer of fallen leaves covering the ground. Close- 

 grown plantations are rarely chosen as nesting sites, and small belts of birch 

 and oak are favorite nesting grounds, provided that there is plenty of space 

 between the trees. It is my experience that the hirds dislike dense cover in 

 which to nest ; a few broken-down braken offer a suitable position, or the bird 

 may scrape out a hollow amongst the deep layers of fallen beech and oak leaves 



