PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 273 



Ireland, the birds crossing from Scotland rather than from Wales, and arriving 

 on the coast of Ulster, and later concentrating, in severe winters, on the southern 

 and western seaboards (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 269). Birds 

 which have probably overshot the mark have been observed returning to Cornwall 

 and the south-west of Ireland from a south-westerly direction (cf. Yarrell, British 

 Birds, 4th ed., vol. iii. p. 325). To what extent woodcock pass through to countries 

 farther south is uncertain. The return emigration from the British Isles begins 

 early in March, and it is worthy of note that many of the winter visitors are 

 still in the country after our home-breeding woodcock have started their nesting 

 operations. 



The woodcock is, as a rule, a gregarious and a nocturnal traveller, and it is 

 very frequently recorded from the light-stations. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The nest is merely a depression in the ground, usually 

 in a wood, though it has been found among heather on a moor. The only lining 

 materials used are dead leaves or a little moss, and Saunders states that the dead 

 leaves are usually added during incubation, presumably by the hen. (PL L. ) The eggs 

 are normally 4 in number, sometimes only 3, and in a few cases 5 have been found in 

 one nest. They are not nearly so pyriform in shape as most eggs of Limicoline birds, 

 but are frequently a broad oval. The ground-colour is light creamy yellowish, some 

 eggs showing a beautiful warm brown tinge, which usually fades rapidly, while others 

 when first laid are greenish yellow. They are rather sparingly marked, as a rule, 

 with blotches and spots of varying intensity of reddish or yellowish brown, and 

 underlying ashy shellmarks. Clutches of pure white eggs have also been recorded, 

 but are rare (Field, June 1, 1907 ; British Birds, i. 124). (PL K.) Average size 

 of 71 eggs, 1-74x1-33 in. [44-0x33*8 mm.]. Incubation is chiefly performed by 

 the hen, but according to Forester Schupke she is relieved by the cock for an hour 

 or an hour and a half at midday (Naumann, Vogel Mitteleuropas, ix. p. 217). The 

 duration of the period is variously given : Naumann was almost certainly in error in 

 giving it as 17 days ; but a nest watched in Norfolk by Dr. Fitch was occupied by a 

 brooding bird for at least 21 days (Birds of Norfolk, ii. p. 289) ; W. Evans estimates 

 the period as 20 days from the laying of the last egg (Ibis, 1891, p. 80) ; and H. S. 

 Gladstone at 23 days (Birds of Dumfries, p. 385). In the British Isles it is an early 

 breeder, and the first eggs may be found towards the end of March or early in 

 April. Probably many birds are single-brooded, but as occasionally nests with 

 eggs have been found not only in June, but even late in July, it is evident that a 

 second brood is sometimes reared. In one case (recorded in the Field, May 6, 1899) 



