262 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



Most important, from the sportsman's point of 

 view, of all those errant birds that are free as the 

 air, and wild as the wind, are the woodcock. 

 Scattered over the rough and broken ground, chiefly 

 in the moist patches indicated by the rank grass ; 

 in open weather they shelter in the hollow furze 

 bush, or betake themselves to the birches, should 

 the rain change to snow. In Sutherland they have 

 commenced breeding in most of the woods, laying 

 four large eggs, similar in colour to those of the 



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snipe. The eggs of the woodcock are easily dis- 

 tinguished from those of the snipe, or any other 

 kindred bird, except, perhaps, the great plover, by 

 their exceptional roundness and fulness. 



The visitors come in October. Their approach 

 is made known by the redwing, which bird one 

 cannot help connecting with the woodcock as 

 guests who commonly arrive together, however 

 unlike in other respects. A bag of woodcock, with 

 the richer winter plumage of the golden plover for 

 feather, and a mountain hare for fur, are pleasantly 

 suggestive of bracken, marsh, and coppice. 



The flushed mire snipe tacks first to one side and 

 then to the other, and demands from the sportsman 

 a knowledge of his habits, to judge when to shoot. 

 After the third deviation, he settles down to his 



