CHAP. TWENTY-EIGHT WOODCOCK 



MARCH g, 1846. — A woodcock's nest, with 

 three eggs, was brought to me to-day. Two 

 years ago, a boy brought me a young wood- 

 cock nearly full-grown, and fledged, in the 

 second week of April — the exact day I do not remember. 

 Reckoning from this, I should suppose that the woodcock 

 is about the first bird to hatch in this country. 



A few years ago, it was supposed that none remained in 

 Britain after the end of winter, except a few wounded birds, 

 which were unable to cross the sea to their usual breeding- 

 places. However,since the great increase of fir-plantations, 

 great numbers remain to breed. In the woods of Altyre and 

 Darnaway (as well as in all the other extensive plantations 

 in the country), during the whole spring and summer, I see 

 the woodcocks flying to and fro every evening in consider- 

 able numbers. As early as six or seven o'clock, they begin 

 to fly, uttering their curious cry, which resembles more the 

 croak of a frog than any thi ng else ; varied,however,by a short 

 shrill chirp. Down the shaded course of the river,or through 

 the avenues and glades of the forest, already dark from the 

 shadowofthepine-trees,thewoodcockskeepup a continual 

 flight, passingand repassing in all directions, as if in search 

 of each other. As the twilight comes on, in the open part of 

 the country, they leave the shade of the woods and flydown 

 to the swamps and pools near the seashore and elsewhere, 

 to feed during the night. When watching in the even- 

 ing for wild ducks or geese near the swamps by the shore, 

 I have constantly seen them pitch close to me, and com- 

 mence feeding in their peculiar manner. These birds must 

 probably come from the Altyre woods, the nearest point of 

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