WOODCOCK. 3 



periods of the month, but the chief part in November; they 

 begin to remove again by the end of February. 



The first flights consist chiefly of females, and these 

 continuing but a few days, are succeeded by the later ones, 

 which are composed principally of males. Upon their first 

 arrival, they are frequently so much exhausted that individuals 

 have been known to fly against houses, and alight in streets. 

 'During the summer months, this species,' says Meyer, 'inhabits 

 the northern countries, where it chiefly breeds, and in winter 

 the milder regions of the south. Deviations from this general 

 rule, however, occur in different parts of the south of Europe, 

 where the Woodcock has been found in many instances to 

 inhabit the highest woods of the mountains during the 

 summer, and to come down into the valleys on the approach 

 of winter.' 



'It appears that the bird in question is not able to bear 

 very cold weather, since it is a rare circumstance to meet 

 with one in the depth of our severe winters; but when the 

 winter is mild, its occurs throughout the shooting season till 

 the spring. Its susceptibility of cold is, doubtless, not the 

 only reason for the Woodcock forsaking us in severe winters, 

 but its difficulty of finding food must be great when the 

 water is frozen, and the ground rendered impervious to its 

 soft bill when hardened by continued frost. In this is seen 

 again the wonderful care of Providence, in instilling that 

 instinct into His creatures which enables them to pursue the 

 right road towards finding their food under all gradations 

 of circumstances.' 



In crossing the sea in their spring and autumnal migrations, 

 Woodcocks fly at a great height, but flocks are seen on the 

 land but a little way over the ground. Charles St. John, 

 Esq. relates that the master of a ship had observed some of 

 these birds, when tired and exhausted, pitch for a moment 

 or two with outspread wings, in the wake of the ship, and 

 having rested themselves for a few moments, pursue their 

 way. As a corroboration of this, I may state that it is 

 mentioned in Jesse's 'Gleanings in Natural History,' that a 

 gentleman having disturbed a Woodcock on the banks of the 

 Humber, the bird flew over a sand-bank, and disappeared. 

 On following it he observed it securely riding on the waves; 

 and it remained there some time as if quite accustomed to 

 the sea. On being again disturbed, it rose without effort, 

 and flew away. 



