WOODCOCK. 273 



which prevailed at that time. Unusual numbers also 

 occur at times from the same cause in the months of 

 October and November. Their nocturnal migrations 

 are certainly influenced rather by the wind than the 

 moon, this species having been found abundant on our 

 coast, after a dark night, with the wind from the north 

 or north-east,* which agrees exactly with Mr. Selby's 

 experience that " they always come over in the greatest 



* I am well aware, although quite unable to reconcile it with my 

 own experience, that some naturalists maintain that our migrants 

 arrive, not with, but against the wind ; in other words that they 

 prefer facing a strong head wind, and would thus fetch our coast, 

 from the north of Europe, with the wind from the south or south- 

 west. But although I can imagine a side wind to be more 

 favourable than a " stern chaser," I cannot understand a long- 

 continued flight in the very teeth of the wind being maintained 

 without great exhaustion and consequent delay on the journey. 

 In support, however, of this view of migration, Mr. Hele, of Aide- 

 burgh, Suffolk, a very observing naturalist, makes the following 

 statement in the " Field " of November 17th, 1866. " Last Tuesday 

 whilst fishing along shore, I had a most capital view of a wood- 

 cock * arriving.' The wind was blowing somewhat freshly from 

 the north-west, so that the bird was flying directly to windward. 

 Its speed was most remarkable. I do not remember having seen 

 it exceeded by any other bird, if equalled [it has been estimated 

 at one hundred and fifty miles an hour.] The elevation of flight 

 was about fifteen feet. Two other woodcocks had been seen to 

 * make land ' a few hours previously." In reply, also, to the com- 

 ments of a correspondent in the same journal, he writes (" Field," 

 December 1st, 1866), " I have been able from actual observation 

 to satisfy myself that many other species come to us from eastward 

 during the prevalence of west and north-west winds namely, 

 starlings, larks in large flocks, with many smaller birds, which I 

 have not been fortunate enough to identify ; royston crows, rooks, 

 and fieldfares ; and of those leaving, the swallows, sand and house- 

 martins, also swifts, invariably pass towards the south-west at the 

 time of the wind blowing from that point." This is strong 

 evidence certainly on the one side, but not more so than can be 

 readily adduced on the other. 

 2 N 



