THE WOODCOCK 159 



are reared in the course of a season. It is worth noting 

 that prior to the nineteenth century no case of Woodcock 

 nesting in Britain was recorded. It is unlikely that the 

 birds have changed their habits since then ; more probably 

 an increased interest in nature study has revealed their 

 presence in localities where they formerly nested in ob- 

 scurity. The Woodcock is remarkable amongst birds in 

 that it carries its young considerable distances in order 

 to remove them from a danger zone. If a bird be dis- 

 turbed suddenly with her brood around her, she sometimes 

 snatches up the chick which happens to be nearest to her 

 and carries it off, holding it apparently between her legs. 

 On a certain occasion a stalker surprised such a bird on 

 the bank of a river, and, picking up one of her brood, she 

 bore it over to the farther side, to return, presumably, 

 with her travelled child after the danger had passed. 

 This remarkable habit of the Woodcock is one which 

 has been noted by so many and accurate observers that 

 it is somewhat surprising it is still regarded with scepticism 

 by certain ornithologists. Such, nevertheless is the case, 

 and every time the statement appears in print a sheaf of 

 letters are forthcoming from those who seek to cast doubts 

 on the narrative of the observer who witnessed the event. 

 On the other hand, certain writers of repute indeed go so 

 far as to assert that the young Woodcock are carried to 

 the feeding-grounds by their parents nightly. 



During its flight the bill of the Woodcock is pointed 

 downwards, and the wings are not extended to their full 

 stretch. It seldom makes sustained flights, however, 

 except on migration. During a shoot at Alnwick a Wood- 

 cock was seen to alight on the ground and then to throw 

 leaves over its back, presumably to hide itself from the 

 guns. If so, it would seem that the Woodcock is one of 

 the most sagacious of birds. It feeds mainly by night on 

 wet, boggy ground, and eats an enormous quantity of 



