DUMMY NESTS 155 



to believe that he was sitting on eggs, his mate 

 meanwhile quietly entering the grass to see after 

 her family. These dummy nests are to be seen 

 wherever many of this species breed together ; and 

 although they are sometimes lined with one or two 

 small pieces of dried grass, they never contain 

 eggs, and are usually in a rather prominent posi- 

 tion, so that they may be conveniently used by the 

 male bird as a look-out station, from whence he 

 can announce the approach of an enemy. They 

 are also said to be caused by the male birds, which 

 in their amorous delight have been supposed to 

 dance for their mate's entertainment. 



During damp autumn days, preceding early 

 winter, small parties of Snipe haunt the marshy 

 parts of the fields ; and it is possible to get quite 

 close to them before they quickly rise and hie 

 away with their rapid zigzagging flight. While 

 they are on the ground, however, it is almost 

 impossible to distinguish them as they squat low 

 on the surface. 



The Woodcock also I have seen in our fields, 

 but only on very rare occasions, principally in 

 autumn. In Epping Forest this bird is to be 

 seen in early spring, but never stays to breed 

 there according to my observation. 



