120 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



hood of the Broads, having noticed it with us all 

 summer through. A strict watch had been kept, 

 until at length a nest was discovered under a bush at 

 Hickling on 25th May 1897. Breydon walls are 

 a favourite resort of this species in the autumn. 



SOME WOODCOCK NOTES 



Of late years there has been a decided falling- 

 off in the numbers of Woodcocks visiting us. Every 

 gunner, in my younger time, had an ambition to 

 boast of at least one Woodcock slain ; and he who 

 exceeded that number was not slow to draw out a 

 certain feather one of the under- wing coverts 

 and stick it in the band of his hat. In some 

 instances quite a row of these badges of prowess 

 adorned the headgear of certain vain sportsmen. 

 The habits of the Woodcock, although a secretive 

 sort of a fellow, are too well known to need any 

 comment thereon; but I have from time to time 

 kept a record of its to me earliest known 

 arrival in the autumn, and sundry incidents that 

 have made its appearance somewhat remarkable : 



1881. The first notified this year was on 9th 

 September, a small dark variety which I thought 



