THE WOODCOCK. 235 



peculiar manner, that gives the appearance of a 

 young bird being clutched up. He was several 

 times quite near to birds presenting the appearance 

 here described. 



St. John's account of the mode of transport, 

 however, has been confirmed by other observers. 

 A correspondent writing from Rostrevor, Co. Down, 

 in August 1871, says : <( On the 2d of this month 

 I started a brace of Woodcocks close to me. One 

 of them had a young one pressed between its breast 

 and feet ; it lighted on the ground again after rising, 

 apparently to get a better grasp of its young one, 

 and then flew off with it. They were near the edge 

 of a wood in the afternoon and during sunshine." 

 Another correspondent, writing from Rohallion, 

 Birnam, says: " This spring (1871) I have been 

 witness repeatedly to the ability of the Woodcock 

 to carry its young, and fly off with them, pressed to 

 its body by its legs. This was in May and June." 



Another method of transport is that referred 

 to by Mr. W. Colquhoun (Dumbartonshire), who 

 says : " I have seen a Woodcock carry its young, 

 but it was by pressing it between its legs'' 



Again, Mr. A. Hamond jun., of W T estacre, in- 



