PPLAND SHOOTING, 171 



Now, although the length of time occupied by incubation, i.^ 

 not laid down in the books, it cannot exceed eighteen or twenty 

 days, — the young birds run the moment they clip the shell ; and 

 it is stated by Mr. Audubon, I doubt not, correctly, that at six 

 weeks' old, they are strong and quick on the wing. According 

 to tills, there should be many birds well on the wing early in 

 April ; and from all we know of the growth of these birds, no 

 difference being manifest after the August moult between the 

 old and young, these should be fully equal to the parents in size 

 on the first of July. 



I have myself no doubt, that the Woodcock regularly breeds 

 twice, and sometimes thrice a season, although it is certain that 

 young birds of two different sizes, and consequently different 

 hatchings, are never found in July with the same parents. 



It occurs to me, but I cannot be sure of the fact, as I only 

 speak fl-om vague recollection, that in the few cases where it is 

 possible to be assured, that all the birds killed are of one brood, 

 — as, for instance, in small hill-swales, and the like, containing 

 one resting-place — I have never seen above one old bird with 

 the brood. In adverse seasons — the worst of which are those 

 which, after a favorable and early spring, become cold and wet 

 in May and June, — when the first brood is destroyed by floods, 

 the old birds do unquestionably breed a second time, and hatch 

 a very late brood, so late as to the middle of July. And of this, 

 I think, the following anecdote will be held sufficient proof and 

 confirmation. 



This anecdote was published by me some two or three years 

 since, in the columns of a leading monthly magazine, in connec- 

 tion with a number of remarks concerning the habits of the 

 Woodcock, on some of which I have since been led to alter my 

 opinion. I was, at that time, inclined to believe that the parent 

 birds retained several broods of young, of different sizes, about 

 them ; but I am satisfied that this view of the case was errone- 

 ous, and was induced by the accident of two or more broods 

 having come in contact, as is perpetually the case on well- 

 stocked ground, under the care of only ofie parent bird each. 



