THE WOODCOCK 299 



species seek our islands at this time, thereby escaping the terrors of 

 a more northern winter. But why do the emigrants, the birds which 

 have bred with us, leave ? If the birds bred farther north can find 

 sustenance here through the winter though they may be driven 

 farther and farther southwards and westwards during spells of 

 exceptionally hard frost why cannot our own native birds endure 

 the same climatic conditions ? During recent years, it may be 

 remarked, they have considerably increased in numbers, owing in part 

 to the increase in plantations, and in part to the shelter they obtain 

 within the closely guarded coverts which form their favourite resort. 

 The reply which naturally suggests itself is, that the more northern 

 birds are more inured to cold than those bred in our islands, 

 which at the approach of winter leave to seek more southern latitudes. 

 But this is not a quite satisfactory explanation ; the answer to the 

 riddle has yet to be found. 



Like most migrants travelling by night, these autumn arrivals land 

 on our shores unseen. But there is reason to believe that they observe 

 the usual rule of migrants, of crossing the sea at a great height, and 

 pitching down suddenly as they reach the shore. Unfavourable 

 meteorological conditions, however, in the upper air, often drive the 

 travellers downwards, when many, attracted by the glare of lighthouses, 

 perish miserably. On moonlight nights, however, this danger is 

 largely removed. But that the numbers which annually meet a 

 violent death through this irresistible fascination for light, the reports 

 of the Migration Committees amply testify. Thus Mr. Barrington, to 

 quote but a single instance, tells us 1 that when overhauling the 

 Copeland (New) Island Lighthouse, on May 12, 1891, no less than 

 one hundred and fifty dead woodcock were found in the "eave- 

 gutter " of the dome and cowl of the lantern : these must have been 

 killed by striking the lantern during stormy weather in the spring. 

 During migration, birds have been seen to rest for a while on the sea, 

 and rise again to resume their journey. During adverse weather, 



1 Migrations of Birds at Irish Light-Stations, p. 246. 

 VOL. III. 2 Q 



