126 INCREASE AND DISPERSAL OF BIRDS 



northern breeding places. In early summer, 

 when the woodcocks have nested with us, the 

 same evening flights again take place in the 

 twilight, accompanied by the peculiar notes 

 described above. This flight follows regular 

 lines or routes, and is termed ' roding ' or 

 1 r6ding,' a word of doubtful derivation not to 

 be found in ordinary dictionaries. May it not 

 simply mean 'roading,' i.e. following the 

 accustomed roads or lines of flight ? 



In considering the circumstances of this re- 

 markable change of habit in the woodcock, as 

 regards its remaining with us as a habitual 

 nesting species, we do not find any striking 

 change in localities or conditions to account 

 for its altered habit. No doubt the woodcock 

 is singularly sensitive to climatic conditions, and 

 a continuance of severe and adverse seasons 

 must necessarily govern their movements to 

 some extent ; but the only satisfying explana- 

 tion of so great a change seems to be that the 

 older breeding centres had become congested. 



It now remains to consider the third cate- 

 gory that is, the case of birds formerly quite 

 unknown but now becoming common and in- 

 creasing, and of these the stock dove is an 

 interesting and remarkable example. Referring 

 once more to the middle of last century, and 



