THE WOODCOCK 125 



to-day nests may probably be counted by hun- 

 dreds. It is interesting to note that already in 

 1832 the Ross-shire keepers had reported that, 

 when disturbed, the old birds would carry away 

 the young to safety in their claws; it is now 

 known, however, that the young are clasped 

 between the thighs of the parent bird, and not 

 carried in the claws, much less under the throat, 

 or even in the bill, as was the earlier belief. 



On their first arrival on spring migration, 

 when pairing, the woodcocks have a curious 

 habit of issuing from covert after sunset, flying 

 slowly with puffed-out plumage round the edges 

 of woods and copses or down rides and open 

 spaces, uttering from time to time two peculiar 

 call-notes, one a harsh croak two or three times 

 repeated, the other a sharp sibilant piping sound. 

 It is stated, on the authority of Dr. Hoffman, 

 that the latter note is common to both sexes, 

 while the frog-like croak proceeds from the 

 male alone. It is during this courting season 

 that the German sportsmen procure their best 

 bags, placing themselves towards evening in 

 some open spot on a favourite route. To some 

 of us it may seem a pity to take advantage of 

 the poor birds' honeymoon, but it is perhaps 

 hardly to be wondered at, seeing that in a few 

 days all these visitors have left for their more 



