270 CHARADRIIDA 
bound, the bird can remain in the woods and search among 
the decaying leaves for insects, but it is only as a last 
resort in continued hard weather that it visits the tidal 
slob-lands, or searches among the rocks and seaweed for 
shell-fish. 
Many writers have observed that a very severe frost 
and snow in Britain induces a strong westerly movement, 
the birds appearing along the west shores of Scotland and 
Ireland in great numbers. Here the migrants are usually 
brought to a halt, some which ventured further having 
been found drowned in flocks in the ocean. 
Voice.—In winter the Woodcock is practically voiceless, 
though a slight sound like #k wk wk has been heard from 
a bird when flushed; but from February onward through 
the breeding-season, peculiar notes are uttered during the 
evening flight, when the birds proceed and return along an 
accustomed course over the woods. The sound then heard 
is a triple croak, usually followed by a hissing whistle, 
the latter is often uttered in early spring before the croak 
is taken up. 
Nest.—This species breeds in timbered situations, making 
its nest on the ground. In some instances this is concealed 
from view, but not over-hung, by tall herbs, brackens, and 
shrubby undergrowth (Plate XX.), but in other cases I 
have seen it on soft, dry ground thinly covered with stunted 
crasses and mosses. The eggs are sometimes laid in a 
mere hollow, without any lining; or a ring-fence is formed 
of fir-needles and other dead material round the nesting- 
hollow ; but I have also seen well-formed nests made 
of and lined with dead leaves, to which bits of bracken 
and stems were added. I have found, however, that it is 
almost impossible to remove a nest and retain its contour 
perfectly intact, without digging up a portion of the sur- 
rounding soil. The eggs, four in number, vary from light 
to dark shades of buff and stone-brown, blotched and 
spotted with grey and brown. The female sits closely on 
her eggs, especially when they are nearly incubated. The 
parent-birds display great affection and care for their brood, 
and show undoubted courage when an enemy appears on 
the scene. Mr. Ussher states that when a former game- 
keeper of his was ‘‘ walking with beagles through a wood 
where these birds were breeding, one of them alighted in 
front of a dog and, running forward, flapped its wings at 
the animal with loud cries ” (‘ Birds of Ireland,’ p. 274). 
