BIRD PROBLEMS 207 



head of a young woodcock peeped out from the 

 feathers of the old one's breast, uttering that plaintive 

 cry for which language has no sign. There were 

 two more young woodcocks, and to relieve the 

 anxiety of the madre I left her. Near the place 

 where I found her there was a soft green stripe, 

 such as woodcocks love. I had no doubt that the 

 family would be there next day, and as I passed 

 near I turned aside to see what they were doing. 

 Upon a dry bank half-way down the brae I almost 

 stumbled over a bird which rose at my feet, and as it 

 darted through the trees I saw that it had something 

 in its claws, and at the same time I heard the plaintive 

 cry of little woodcocks just under my feet. I 

 looked down there were two; and I thought a 

 hawk had carried off the third, and perhaps killed 

 the mother. The bird I had startled, however, I 

 found, on following, was the old woodcock, which 

 being flushed again suddenly, after a low flight of 

 only a few yards, dropped what she was carrying 

 her own young woodcock." 



This trait may be confirmed by any one who will 

 look out the bird in its haunts, and is all the more 

 interesting as it seems to be quite an acquired 

 habit, the bird being in no way adapted to transport 

 its young through the air. 



Thus the possibility of one bird carrying another 

 has been amply demonstrated; and it will have been 



