234 THE WOODCOCK. 



more plentiful than in others, 1 which may depend on the 

 severity or otherwise of the weather in the north of Europe, 

 and also on the influence of the prevailing winds during the 

 period of migration. Mr. Selby of Twizell House, North- 

 umberland, the well-known ornithologist, says, with regard 

 to the migration of the Woodcock : " I have found that 

 these birds always come over in the greatest bodies in hazy 

 weather with little wind, and that blowing from the north- 

 east." He adds that " the first flights, which seldom remain 

 longer than for a few days and then pass southwards, 

 consist chiefly of females ; whilst, on the contrary, the 

 subsequent and latest flights, which continue with us, are 

 principally composed of males. 2 



Woodcocks generally make their first appearance in 

 autumn in the neighbourhood of the sea-coast about Lam- 

 berton, 3 Fast Castle, and Eedheugh, 4 where they sometimes 

 drop into hedges and turnip fields on their arrival, 5 being 

 exhausted by their long flight ; but they soon spread inland 

 and take up their quarters for the season in their usual 

 haunts. Some woods, amongst which may be mentioned 

 the Grange Wood in the parish of Coldingham ; Buncle 

 Woods in the parish of Buncle ; Edington Hill Wood 6 in the 



1 Dr. Johnston in his MS. Notes mentions 1852 as a year when Woodcocks 

 were unusually plentiful in Berwickshire. Yarrell also refers to great numbers 

 being found that year in Norfolk. 



2 Yarrell's British Birds, fourth edition, vol. iii. pp. 321, 322. 



3 Woodcocks are often found in the early part of the season, poor, weak, and 

 exhausted, probably from their long flight across the German Ocean. Old 

 Statistical Account of Scotland, Mordington Parish, vol. xv. p. 182. 



4 The first cold, misty east wind used to bring the Woodcocks to Eedheugh, 

 and amongst the turnips at Oldcambus East Mains. They were exhausted when 

 they arrived. The gamekeeper usually finds them early on Dowlaw Braes. 

 Mr. Hardy's MS. Notes. 



5 They are sometimes found in very unusual places on their first arrival. Mr. 

 Alexander Leitch, Fairneyside, near Ayton, has informed me that about eight 

 o'clock on the morning of the 13th of November 1884 he found a Woodcock in a 

 lambing shed at Fairneyside, and it escaped through a hole in the roof. 



6 Dr. Stuart records that the gamekeeper at Edington Hill informed him on the 

 18th January 1886 that 18| couple of Woodcocks were killed in Edington Hill Wood 

 during the season 1885-86. Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. xi. p 1 . 241. 



