THE WOODCOCK. 231 



him, which was not difficult, as he continued to call 

 her as loud as his tiny bill could pipe. In a few 

 moments I ran forward, and she rose with him in 

 her feet, her long legs dangling and swinging with 

 her little burden like a parachute. She lighted at 

 no great distance, and as I again came upon her 

 she got up, but in her hurry dropped the young 

 bird. I instantly stopped, for she came to the 

 ground almost at the same time with the little one, 

 and she ran back and sat upon him, and rose again 

 with him in her claws. I left her to pursue her 

 flight in peace, and went on to my pass ; but I have 

 no doubt she went back for the other two, for, 

 several times afterwards, I saw them all together in 

 the soft green ' glac.' ' 



This very circumstantial account from so good 

 an observer leaves no room for doubt in the mind 

 of the reader, but an independent observation by 

 another equally good naturalist may be quoted for 

 the purpose of showing that the young are carried 

 in another and a different manner to that already 

 described, and that they are thus transported, not 

 only to escape their enemies, but for the purpose of 

 obtaining food, which, in their unfledged state, they 



