48 THE WoopDcock. 
other bird of prey carried its victim. Now, so far as he saw 
that was altogether wrong. They did not hang down dependent 
upon their feet in any way. They were tucked up under the 
abdomen and held under the thighs. It was one of the most 
interesting traits in bird life that he had seen. 
The President (Professor Scott-Elliot) congratulated Mr 
Gladstone on his most valuable paper. He added that he 
should like to know a little more about that curious question of 
the woodcock curing its own wound. He confessed that since 
he began to study nature he had seen so many wonderful and 
almost incredible things happen around him that he was prepared 
to believe it ; he would only like more proof. 
ADDITIONAL NOTES BY AUTHOR. 
Since I delivered this lecture I have come across one or two 
interesting local records concerning the woodcock which it may 
not be out of place to add. As regards the excessive rarity of 
killing two woodcocks with one shot, to which I have referred 
above, I was surprised to find two occurrences recorded in the 
columns of the Dumfries “Courier.’’ In the issue of October 
26th, 1852, we read:—“Mr John M‘Quie, gamekeeper to 
Wellwood Maxwell, Esq. of Munches, while afield on Wednes- 
day last (20th Oct.) brought down at one dexterous shot a 
brace of woodcock.’’. . . . And on 25th November, 
1851 :—“ On Tuesday last (18th November) Mr Garlies C. 
Maitland, Kells Manse, when shooting on the Kenmure estate 
flushed a brace of woodcock which he brought down with one 
shot. An unfortunate blackbird which had flown within range 
at the time also fell a victim to the same discharge.’’ Which 
feat eclipses that of Chantrey’s already quoted. 
The pious wish expressed above for the, extension of the 
close-time for woodcock has been realised. 
I am informed by Lord Henry Scott that 52 woodcocks and 
other game were shot by six guns at Langholm on 15th Decem- 
ber, 1908. A record bag for Dumfriesshire. 
The usual complement of eggs laid is four, but Mr S. 
Copland writes me from Canonbie that in 1908 he found five im 
one nest. 
The only local records of partial albinism in this species I 
have come across, are two woodcocks each of which had six 
