SCOLOPACID^. 



553 



?\r. 



THE WOODCOCK. 



ScoLOPAX RusTi'cuLA, Litinccus. 



The annual ' flights ' of this well-known species usually make 

 their appearance in October, a return migration northwards being 

 noticed in March, by which time the birds which intend to breed 

 in our islands have betaken themselves to suitable coverts. Of 

 late years, owing to the increase of plantations — especially of coni- 

 fers — in the vicinity of cultivated ground, the number of those 

 which remain has been greatly augmented ; nests having been found 

 in all parts of England, and probably of Scotland and Ireland, except 

 on some of the barest islands. It is said that early in autumn 

 the home-bred birds disappear from their haunts, few, if any, being 

 seen until the October influx, and they are supposed to have left 

 the country ; but it may be questioned whether their disappearance 

 is not attributable to self-effacement during the moult. Migration 

 takes place by night, when casualties against the lanterns of light- 

 houses and vessels are not unfrequent. I^jirds have often been 

 known to alight with the wind in a quarter directly opi)osed to the 

 direction whence they might be expected ; but this is probably due 

 to the existence of different currents of air in the more elevated 

 strata through which they have been passing. 



The Woodcock has only once been obtained in the Eiviroes and 



