432 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



like the Snipe ; but, during the breeding- 

 season, Hke that bird, the male forgets for 

 a time his skulking habits, and flies back- 

 wards and forwards, uttering a peculiar 

 note, which, though unquestionably pro- 

 ceeding from the throat, must be regarded 

 as analogous to the drumming of the 

 Snipe. This peculiar habit of the Wood- 

 cock is described as ' roding,' and is 

 indulged in early in the morning and late 

 in the evening in the pairing-season, 

 sometimes before it reaches its breeding- 

 grounds, but more often after its arrival 

 there. This * roding ' continues for about 

 a quarter of an hour, during which two 

 peculiar notes are uttered, sometimes 

 singly, and sometimes one following the 

 other." 



In Sweden, the Wood-Cock is shot 

 while "roding," and Mr. Ekstrom, as quoted 

 by Mr. Dresser, remarks : — " During the 

 first days of spring the Woodcock com- 

 mences ' roding ' the instant the sun has 

 sunk below the horizon, but at a more 

 advanced period somewhat before its final 

 disappearance, and continues until night- 

 fall. In the morning it begins ' roding ' 

 whilst still quite dark, and ceases 

 previous to its being full daylight. When 

 the bird * rodes ' there is always an 



