152 <%j4fMBLES OF A 



Of late years, however, owing largely perhaps to the 

 growing interest in natural history, and partly no doubt 

 to a real increase in the number of stay-at-home birds, 

 woodcocks' eggs have been reported from nearly every 

 county in England. In one part of Sussex alone an 

 average of 150 to 200 nests a year has been recorded. 



One of the most remarkable points in connection with 

 this bird is the manner in which, when disturbed, it has 

 been known to carry its young to a place of safety. It 

 was even stated by Scopoli, 120 years ago, that it held 

 them in its beak. Gilbert White, after speaking of 

 " Scopoli's new work (which I have just procured)," 

 says : " He also advances some (I was going to say) 

 improbable facts ; as when he says of the woodcock 

 * puttos rostro portatjfugiens ab hoste? But," he continues, 

 with a modesty perhaps not always quite sufficiently 

 remembered by writers on natural history, " candour 

 forbids me to say absolutely that any fact is false because 

 I have never been witness to such a fact. I have only 

 to remark that the long unwieldy bill of the woodcock is 

 perhaps the worst adapted of any among the winged 

 creation for such a feat of natural affection." 



That the bird does carry its young has been proved by 

 the observations of many writers, though certainly not 

 in its bill, and probably not in its claws. It appears to 

 grasp them between its thighs, perhaps even holding 

 them closer by pressing them against its body with its 

 beak. 



The goldcrest, is known to the North Sea fishermen as 

 the " woodcock-pilot ; " for they say that when the gold- 



