THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 20O, 



discover as far as possible the movements of the British- 

 bred 'cock. 



As stated in the note referred to above, there is, of 

 course, no longer any doubt as to the more or less common 

 occurrence of the woodcock as a breeding species in these 

 islands, but very little so far has been discovered as to 

 what becomes of these birds, for, although there would 

 seem to be no longer any diminution in the number of 

 woodcock killed each season in this country, the increase 

 that might well be expected from the greater plenty of 

 nesting birds has not yet made itself manifest. 



It is true, of course, that in those districts in which 

 woodcock now breed somewhat extensively rather heavier 

 bags than formerly are obtainable each season, But the 

 increase is not in any way proportionate to the larger 

 number bred ; in fact, it is known in one or two cases that 

 the proportion is very much smaller than might have been 

 reasonably anticipated. The woodcock in a certain district 

 are, we will say, increasing, so far as nesting goes, at 

 the rate of 25 per cent, per annum, but the bags obtained 

 do not represent anything larger than an addition of some 

 5 per cent. The obvious inference is that the remainder 

 of the birds go off to other districts, but even this does not 

 take into account the possibility that the larger total of 

 birds killed may be represented to some extent by a slight 

 increase in foreign visitors coming in the autumn. 



Seeing that upon the evidence collected it is plain 

 enough that the woodcock bred in any particular locality 

 distribute themselves somewhat widely, the question then 

 arises : Where do they go to ? So far the answer to this 

 query is only partially answered, and it is still contended 

 by certain recognised authorities men who have taken 

 great pains to discover the solution of this interesting 

 problem that home-bred woodcock do not go so far afield 

 as might be supposed. Mr. Charles Dixon, for instance, 

 writing in that fine work of his, "The Game-birds and 

 Wild Fowl of the British Islands, 1 * says: 



"Speaking from a naturalist's point of view, and with 



p 



