PHILOMELA MINOR : THE WOODCOCK. 193 



and in June, after which, with the celebration of the 

 American political idea, now old enough to be less 

 barbaric in its methods of self-glorification, the Wood- 

 cock season begins ; that is to say, a considerable propor- 

 tion of the young birds are grown strong enough to fly 

 in order to be shot. It is a twin relic of barbarism that 

 allows them to be killed at this tender age ; the close 

 time should not cease before September, in which 

 month as well as the succeeding one, the best sport may 

 be had. But whether or not July shooting be per- 

 missible, Woodcock should be let alone in August, when 

 they are moulting, and poorly able to take care of them- 

 selves. The regular course of events may be inter- 

 fered with by irregularities in the season, or the otherwise 

 accidental destruction of eggs, causing very late broods 

 to appear. 



Nesting is early by the middle of April eggs are to 

 be found in their slight nests mere depressions in 

 some dry spot in swampy land, generally the cover of 

 alders and birches, sometimes more open places. The 

 normal number of eggs is four, averaging in size about 

 i. 50 X i. 20 ; they are, however, as variable in dimensions 

 as in coloration, which latter is some shade of buff, 

 thickly spotted and blotched with browns, neutral and 

 lilac tints. In shape, they are less prominently pyriform 

 than those of most waders. It is a fact that when 

 danger threatens, the parent will transport her callow 

 young to a place of greater security, carrying them 

 either in her claws, like a hawk, or close-pressed to her 

 lower bosom between the legs. The Woodcock is 

 largely nocturnal, feeding most by night. During the 

 courtship, it has a variety of extravagant actions both 

 in the air and on the ground, accompanying the display 



