328 SCOLOPACIDJ;. 



called to her as loud as his tiny bill could pipe. In a few 

 moments I ran forward, and she rose with him in her feet, 

 her long legs dangling and swinging with her little burden 

 like a parachute. I left her to pursue her flight in peace, 

 and went on my way ; but I have no doubt she went back for 

 the other two, for several times afterwards I saw them all 

 together in the soft green ' glac.' " 



The late Mr. St. John was at one time under the belief 

 that the young bird was carried in the feet, and stated so in 

 his * Field Notes and Tour in Sutherlandshire/ ii. p. 164, 

 but experiences at Dunrobin, in 1849, in company with Mr. 

 John Hancock,* convinced both these observers that the 

 young bird was clasped between the thighs and pressed close 

 up to the body of the parent ; and this view was subsequently 

 put forth in his 'Natural History and Sport in Moray,' 

 p. 210. An article by Mr. J. E. Harting (Zool. 1879, 

 pp. 433-440), with an illustration after Wolf of the young 

 bird dangling in the feet of the parent "like a parachute," 

 revived the interest on the subject ; and Mr. E. J. Ussher 

 and Mr. K. E. Keeves contributed statements (Zool. 1882, 

 pp. 306, 307), showing that, according to the personal 

 experience of the latter, and that of other observers, the 

 Woodcock supported her young not only with her feet, but 

 also with her bill pressed over the chick against her breast ; 

 confirming the assertion of a Kostrever correspondent, that a 

 Woodcock " had a young one pressed between its breast and 

 feet" (Zool. 1879, p. 439). Without denying the accuracy 

 of former observations, the latter position appears to be 

 supported by the evidence of the larger number of witnesses. 



The Woodcock is a nocturnal bird, seeking its repose by 

 day, remaining quietly hid in the dry grassy bottoms of 

 brakes and woods, seldom or never moving unless disturbed. 

 Sir Humphry Davy, in his Salmonia, says, " A laurel, or a 

 holly bush is a favourite place for their repose : the thick 

 and varnished leaves of these trees prevent the radiation of 

 heat from the soil, and they are less affected by the refriger- 

 ating influence of a clear sky, so that they afford a warm 



* Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumb. and Durham, vi. p. 104. 



