THE WOODCOCK. 229 



bearing half its shell upon its back, and uttering 

 that plaintive cry for which language has no sign. 

 I retreated softly to my stone, but trod upon a long 

 dead branch which lay concealed under the moss, 

 and the extremity stirring the leaves and dry sticks 

 near the Woodcock, she rose, and trailing her 

 wings along the ground, pattered round the stump 

 of the birches, but stopped as she heard the wail of 

 the little bird, which was running about like a tiny 

 ball of brown chenille. In the nest there were two 

 more eggs unhatched, but out of one I saw a little 

 sharp bill and half of another small head peeping 

 through the shell, and to relieve the anxiety of the 

 madre, therefore, I immediately turned from her 

 retreat, and dived down the terrace into the wood. 

 Near the place where I found her there was a soft 

 green ' stripe,' such as Woodcocks love. I had no 

 doubt the family would be there next day ; and as I 

 passed near I turned aside to see what they were 

 doing. Upon a dry bank, half-way down the brae, 

 I almost stumbled over a bird which rose at my 

 feet ; and as it darted through the trees I saw that it 

 had something in its claws, and at the same time I 

 heard the plaintive cry of the little Woodcocks just 



