BRITAIN S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 71 



former in nets called " cock-shutts," which were hung bet^v'een 

 trees across the open glades or rides of a wood, and in many 

 parts of the Continent it still is, or was till very lately, the 

 disgraceful habit of persons calling themselves sportsmen to 

 lie in wait and shoot the bird as he indulges in his measured 

 love-flight.' 



About twelve ounces is perhaps the average weight of 

 Woodcock, and over fifteen ounces is rare. Some writers 

 state that the hen is the larger bird ; others that the cock 

 varies more in weight, but that it is heavier on an average. 

 In plumage there is much individual variation, apparently 

 irrespective of sex ; but immature birds tend to be darker 

 than adults. Partial albinos are not infrequently found, 

 and pure white examples are known to occur. Attention 

 has recently been called to the curious position of the 

 Woodcock's ear-opening — below and in front of the eye. 



THE RED=NECKED PHALAROPE 



(Phalaropus hyperboreus). 



This is a charming and interesting little Wader of 

 aquatic habits, and provided with lobed toes. It is prac- 

 tically a lobe-footed Sandpiper. With two allied species 

 it shares remarkable breeding habits. The females are the 

 larger and more brightly coloured birds ; they do the court- 

 ing, and even fight among themselves for their chosen mates. 

 The males undertake the larger share of the domestic duties. 

 The nest is of the usual Wader type, and the four eggs 

 are of a greenish colour, with very dark markings. In the 

 British Isles this bird was formerly believed to nest only 

 in Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides ; but in 1902 

 a colony was discovered on the Irish coast. On migration 

 it occurs in small numbers on other parts of our coasts. 



