WOODCOCK. 3 



mannan, south of Perthshire, Kinross, and Fife it is generally distributed, but 

 nowhere in great numbers, and almost always in cover, although I once killed one 

 in a turnip-field. On my own property, near Culross, and within two miles of the 

 upper reach of the Firth of Forth, and which contains about 500 acres of cover, 

 there may be from ten to thirty killed annually, according to the season. Their 

 numbers are of course greatly augmented in the winter, large numbers of 

 immigrants being added to those which breed (as after mentioned) : indeed I am 

 not sure whether all of those we have in winter are immigrants, and that those 

 which breed with us move further south in pursuance of their migratory instinct ; 

 but this is a point very difficult to discover. In the district I now allude to, their 

 numbers are much diminished on the appearance of severe frosty weather, when 

 they appear to go to the coast, where they find the feeding-grounds more open ; 

 if, however, the frost be slight, they remain. 



" On the west coast of Argyllshire they are found in greater numbers, and 

 are not so much confined to covers, being found in open weather scattered through 

 all the sheltered glens where there is any brushwood or even bracken. On the 

 occurrence of frost, however, they aU gather to the low-lying covers near the sea, 

 where its influence serves to keep open the springs ; and in such weather very 

 large bags are often made, as they seem to come not only from the outlying spots 

 above mentioned, but from the inland districts, where the frost has sealed up every 

 one of their usual haunts. I have not beside me, but hope to send you in a few 

 days, if not too late, a note of some bags made on such occasions. 



" In both of the above districts I have observed with much interest the 

 evening flight of the Woodcock in summer, while they have young, and are 

 engaged apparently in carrying food to them, flying back and forward from their 

 roosting-places to their feeding-grounds. These latter appear to be, in the West 

 Highlands, generally near the shore, as the flight of the birds is generally directed 

 towards it. While passing overhead thus in their semi-owllike flight, they 

 constantly utter their peculiar double note, first a cheep and then a double croak, 

 in quick succession. 



" The breeding of the Woodcock does not seem to have been observed in any 

 of the districts above mentioned until within the last twenty years ; but in both it 

 now breeds regularly, and in, I think, increasing numbers. 



" I have known of their nests from early in March to at least the I7th of 

 May, when I have found fresh eggs ; and thus I think it possible that they may 

 bring up two broods in the season. The eggs are generally placed in an open 

 part of the wood, where there is little under cover, and where any decayed leaves 

 may be lying, no nest being formed, the bird seeming to trust to their not being 



