in a mild early spring. The nest is always on the ground, generally under 

 an oak or birch tree in some wood, and is often partially covered by the dead 

 stems of last year's nettles or brackens. It is merely a slight depression in 

 the ground, lined with dry grass and dead leaves. I once saw four nests 

 under one large oak-tree in a small plantation in Perthshire. They were all 

 hidden by little clumps of dead bracken, and were mere hollows among the 

 dead oak leaves ; the birds themselves were very nearly invisible, so closely 

 did the colour of their plumage resemble the dead oak leaves. The birds sit 

 very closely, and will almost suffer themselves to be stepped upon before 

 quitting their eggs. 



The Woodcock lays four eggs, which are generally rather rounder and 

 less pyriform than is usual with the Waders. They vary in ground colour 

 from a dirty white to pale brown, and are spotted or blotched with irregular 

 reddish-brown markings, varying in size from a pea downwards. The under- 

 lying markings are greyish brown, and are about the same size. They vary 

 from 17 to i - 6 inch in length, and from 1-4 to 1-3 inch in breadth, and are 

 not easily confused with the eggs of any other of our British-breeding Waders. 



Young in down are rich chestnut on the upper parts, finely spotted with 

 white, and blotched with black markings, and have buff under-parts, the colour 

 being richest on the breast. The Woodcock has often been seen to carry her 

 young from one place to another. I once witnessed the removal of two 

 young birds from a small clump of ornamental trees, surrounded by wire- 

 netting, but as it was rather late in the evening I could not see as clearly as 

 I should have liked. The young one was apparently held between the legs 

 of the parent, and pressed upward by them against its breast ; the bill was 

 not used. I did not see the old bird return, but shortly afterwards the 

 second young one was carried past me in precisely the same manner. In 

 both cases the flight was heavy and laboured. 



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