226 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



found twenty-seven nests, with from four to five 

 eggs in each, and one with six, five of which 

 hatched out safely and were able to fly a short 

 distance in a fortnight* They build chiefly on the 

 edge of a bog. One rotten egg is usually found in 

 the nest when deserted by old and young. Mr. 

 OTarrell adds, he has seen young Cock frequently, 

 but never so numerous as in 1881. He remarks 

 that the old bird, at the time her brood are very 

 young, will behave exactly similar to a hen Partridge 

 when enticing a pursuer from her chicks. Cock 

 are not seen in abundance at Balyna during the 

 winter, and not more than ten couple have ever 

 been killed there in a day. 



Sligo and Mayo are noted counties for Wood- 

 cock. Mr. Warren, of Ballina, tells me that in 

 frost and snow the birds desert the inland coverts 

 for the coast, and that when the tide is out they 

 feed among the rocks and seaweed of the sea-shore ; 

 that in the severe weather of 1878-79, and 1 880-81, 

 numbers were killed by country boys stalking them 

 from behind rocks and boulders and knocking them 

 down with sticks as they rose. Though frost tames 

 Cock, it does not starve them into poor condition 

 for a very long time, as it does Snipe, which in hard 

 weather soon become worthless. 



I will now notice a few good bags of Woodcock 

 made in different parts of Ireland, all of which I 

 know to be reliable, either from personal knowledge, 

 or because the particulars have been supplied by 

 friends and others whose accuracy is undoubted. 



* It very rarely happens that more than four eggs are laid ; and 

 these being the usual number deposited by all the Plover and Snipe 

 group of birds, it seems probable that where more than this are found, 

 two hens may have laid in the same nest. 



