I 1 -'- THE CALL-NOTE. 



feeding-grounds in the open eountry.* In tin- spring, 

 before leaving our shores," he adds, "its ' r6dinu> ' are 

 for amatory purposes, the males seeking the females ; and 

 here" (Broome Park, in Kent, where the woods are of 

 enormous extent), " we have sometimes seen of an evening 

 as many as fifteen thus occupied." 



The Woodcock is monogamous, and pairs early in the 

 spring, either prior to, or immediately after, its return to 

 Scandinavia; and, as it is believed, at the "Drag," of 

 which mention has just been made. 



" During its morning and evening (lights at this time," 

 says Ekstrom, who is much more at home on this subject 

 than myself, "it gives utterance to a peculiar ' Lnrl;-t<m> 

 or call-note, which sportsmen express by knurl, knurl, 

 liiiinjt ! or more properly, perhaps, by orrf, nrrt, /;/*/> .' The 

 first, knort or orrt, is a hollow, coarse, and somewhat 

 lengthened nasal sound ; the second, ////*/; or jiixj), a 

 short, fine, and sharp sort of whistle, which, when one is 

 accustomed to it, may be heard at a considerable distance. 

 This note clearly appears to be the one by which tin- 

 betrothed invite each other to pairing; for the bird 

 seems to pay very little attention to the orrt, but alwa \ s 

 listens and looks about it as soon as it hears the ///.>//. 

 When two Woodcocks, whilst ' rnding,' meet, or come 

 in near proximity, they chase each other; and whilst 

 easting themselves with the rapidity of lightning amon--t 

 the trees and bushes, even to the very ground, they 

 give quick and hurried utterance to their finer note, 

 Although one can seldom witness actual pairing, t 



" Hill-in;; tin' winter," Mr. < Kemlen further savs. "I lia\e often 



iii\-.elfat tin- faiii'Mis ' ll<'"liiii! staml,' "ii ill' 1 limits (' tin- LI 

 .Miteerus \Vn. nls (Killarnev) which ailjoin the l.oi;>. :iml uii mil- .'cnsi<.n 



^h.it Grar ooaple of Cooks in Imlfan hour.' 



t Tlii> is saiil \ taki- |ilai-r mi the rrminil. in .-<>n ..... pen s|>a- in the 



I diriii^' the ai-t Ml' |iairin.L'. the male. Kjii-i-liiillinj; tells ns. -.|.re:nK his 



tail, fan t'unn. ami ili'iop- hi-- win t i;- i: inaliliel' as the I'.l.iek ( 'nek. 



