SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA 13 



manner of flight during the breeding season, somewhat analogous 

 to the drumming of Snipes ; and secondly, the habit the Woodcock 

 has of carrying its young from one place to another. 



As regards the roding of the Woodcock, as its habit of flight 

 during the breeding season is called, this is described by Seebohm 

 as follows : — 



" The Woodcock does not drum like the Snipe, but during the 

 breeding season, like that bird, the male forgets for a time his skulking 

 habits and flies backwards and forwards, uttering a peculiar note, 

 which, though unquestionably proceeding from the throat, must be 

 regarded as analogous to the drumming of the Snipe. This peculiar 

 habit of the Woodcock is described as roding and is indulged in early 

 in the morning and late in the evening, in the pairing season, some- 

 times 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 his peculiar notes are uttered, sometimes singly and 

 sometimes one following the other." 



Dresser, quoting Ekstrom gives in greater detail the manner in 

 which the Woodcock rodes. He writes : — 



" During the first days of spring the Woodcock commences roding 

 the instant the sun has sunk below the horizon, but at a more 

 advanced period somewhat before its final disappearance, and 

 continues until nightfall. In the morning it begins roding whilst it is 

 still quite dark, and ceases previous to its being full daylight. When 

 he rodes there is always an interval between each tour and rctour, 

 which is more observable in the evening, when it goes and returns 

 there several times. The first time it always flies higher and 

 generally with rapidity, the second its flight is but little alrove the 

 tree-tops, and commonly slower, the third time still nearer the 

 ground and yet more leisurely." 



Gates, who quotes both these authors adds : " when flying about 

 in this extraordinary manner the plumage is puffed out and the flight 

 is rather slow." 



Gates' remarks agree well with what was told me by a game- 

 keeper in Wales, who said that he had observed Woodcock just before 

 they left in March roding outside some of the spinnies I mention 

 later in my account of a day's shooting in Wales. This man 

 informed me that just at dusk the cock came out of the cover and 

 sailed slowly backwards and forwards a few times in front of it. At 



