2 24 WOODCOCK. 



the case. He saw one fly over his garden in June, 1884, and heard 

 of others during the same summer at Poston Lodge. Mr. Wood once 

 shot a Woodcock on August T4th, in mistake for a Hawk. It only 

 weighed 9 oz., whereas the usual weight he has found to be from 

 II oz. to 13 oz., though two birds that were killed on his estate 

 weighed as much as 16 oz. From a notice sent to " Land and 

 Water," Mr. S. Martin, of the Hermitage, Burghill, killed a Woodcock 

 on December 5th, 1884, weighing 17 oz. 



Mr. J. W. Lloyd, of Kington, says that the Woodcock breeds 

 regularly in the northern parts of the county. It has been observed 

 at Aymestrey, and The Haughwood, in 1882, 1883, 1884; at 

 Berrington, in 1883, 1884; and at Dinmore Hill, in 1883, where 

 many years ago. Woodcocks were occasionally seen in summer. 

 Mr. W. C. Blake says they breed almost every year in the Perrystone 

 woods, and this observation is confirmed by Mr. Davies, the head- 

 keeper, w^ho says he has met with the eggs, and also the young birds. 

 Woodcocks have also been met with in the Whitfield woods ; and 

 twice within the last few years at Penyard Wood, near Ross. 



The nest of the Woodcock is little more than a hollow 

 amongst dry leaves in some well-sheltered situation, as under a 

 holly, thorn, or bramble-bush. It is often formed at a considerable 

 distance from the wet, boggy feeding-ground they delight in. It 

 is a well-established fact that the old bird will carry its young by 

 its claws, supported against the body by the beak, from place to 

 place, either for its natural food, or to avoid danger. 



And lonely Woodcocks haunt the wat'ry glade. 



Pope. 



The food of the Woodcock consists chiefly of earth-w^orms, 

 which it hunts by scent, or perhaps, rather by the delicate sensation 

 of the long bill. Hence has arisen the notion that Woodcocks do 

 not eat solid food, but are sustained by the moisture they extract 

 from boggy ground. Thus Byron says — 



" But man is a carnivorous production, 

 He cannot live like Woodcocks upon suction." 



In frosty weather they get to the springs, or if the frost is 



