WOODCOCK 



65 



of movement. It flies low, never higher than about 50 feet, which naturally 

 corresponds with its habit of flying among thickets ; and although in escaping it 

 flies more quickly than at other times, it prefers disappearing at the earliest 

 opportunity into some bush or grove, or flying round in a circle, to crossing any 

 open space. When a woodcock is alarmed, the movements of its wings, which then 

 produce a sort of " whirr," are particularly rapid and vigorous. 



Quite different is the " r6ding " flight on the pairing-grounds, the male then 

 flying up and down in an altogether peculiar manner. Should two males happen to 

 meet they fty against each other in curves, wound each other with their beaks, fight 

 in the air, and occasionally drop to the ground while thus engaged. If a female 

 arrives three or four males follow her, so closely that one of them touches her tail 







A WOODCOCK FEEDING. 



with his beak. The "roding" flight is performed within a height of 50 feet, and 

 lasts no longer than a quarter of an hour in the twilight. It is repeated at dawn, 

 and on warm, calm, rainy evenings. Before a woodcock leaves the country, it 

 begins this performance, which is continued on and after its journey. This flight 

 has also been observed in June or even later, and not only during the spring 

 migration. Woodcocks on migration are most numerous after a warm night's 

 rain, for the south-westerly wind that brings rain also brings these birds, as they 

 fly down wind. Cold and snowy springs, however, delay the spring-migration, 

 which is due at the beginning of March, is at its height in the middle of the 

 month, and lasts until the middle of April and sometimes longer. The autumn 

 migration begins at the end of September, lasts through the whole of October, 

 and ends in November. The birds fly singly or in pairs, and never in flocks, and 

 travel between the evening twilight and the first streak of dawn. 

 vol. 1.— 5 



