188 



grass as if lame. A dog being there at the time, it unfortunately caught 

 hold of one of the young birds and killed it. 



In 1876, in the month of July, three young Woodcocks were seen 

 along with the old one, about a couple of hundred yards above Wood- 

 land cottage. These were all strong, and could fly pretty well, so it seems 

 probable that a few pair breed every year in this district. Yet it still 

 must be considered as one of our winter migrating birds ; the great mass 

 visiting us in the commencement and towards the end of October, and 

 leaving us again in February ; and those that breed here are only a few 

 stragglers. 



The Woodcocks, when first arriving in this country, may be found in 

 whin cover on the coast, or at a great distance from wood, often on the 

 moors, amidst long heather. They are extremely shy. Sometimes if fatigued 

 with their flight, they can scarcely be got to rise, and frequently, when 

 fallen in with in such a state, are killed in numbers. They soon, however, 

 leave these districts, and do it altogether, scarcely a bird being found in 

 the morning where the day before they had been abundant. Their 

 most favourite haunts, when settled, as it were, for winter, are woods of 

 some extent, where there is cover tliat can be run through beneath, and 

 where shelter is afTorded. Young larch plantations, especially those 

 shaded from the sun, are favourite haunts, as they generally prefer the north 

 side of a hill, and are always found to be more numerous in those larch 

 plantations where there are a few spruce, thorn, and holly trees, whose 

 branches afford shelter, and underneath which there is generally a nice, 

 smooth piece of ground, well protected both from sunshine and storm. 

 They seldom move much in the day-time, unless disturbed, resting by 

 day, and only feeding at times, or turning over the dried leaves. At 

 twilight they regain activity, resorting to the open glades, marshy 

 bottoms, or sheltered outskirts, and then for a time feed in earnest. 

 Their food seems to be aquatic insects or larvae, which they procure by 

 thrusting their bills into the soft mud, "or boring," as in sporting language 

 it is termed. In this process a quantity of sand is also taken, for the 

 stomach is always filled with it, in addition to any remains of insects 

 that can be seen. In the woods, they also seem to turn over the dead 



