NATURE AND SPORT IN BRITAIN 



northern woods, there were more than usual. It may in- 

 cidentally be remarked that the introduction of pheasants 

 (which has proved a g^reat success) into Denmark un- 

 doubtedly saves the lives of a g"ood many woodcock, as the 

 owners do not care to disturb coverts occupied by the former 

 birds at the time of year when the latter are migrating 

 northwards. *'L." 



Early last year (1903) it was reported in the Field 

 that a woodcock had been shot in the Transvaal, and 

 that the identity of the bird had been thoroughly 

 attested. Far and wide as this splendid bird migrates 

 over the face of the earth, no woodcock has ever before 

 been shot in South Africa, or, indeed, ever identified 

 from any locality in the Dark Continent south of the 

 equator. I believe that once at least previously this 

 bird has been reported in South Africa, but its pres- 

 ence there has never been successfully established. 

 In the present instance the woodcock, said to have been 

 shot near Standerton, is stated to have been vouched 

 a true British bird {Scolopax rusticd) by six British 

 officers. It will be interesting, indeed, if this report 

 is correct. Our English woodcock is known in Persia, 

 India, Ceylon, China, North Africa, and occasionally 

 even on the eastern littoral of North America. There 

 is no real reason why it should not attain to South 

 Africa, and it will be a matter of keen pleasure to 

 all ornithologists if this fact should be successfully 

 established. 



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