344 Mr. W. Thompson on the Breeding of 



interesting points in connexion with the subject, or, to speak 

 more particularly, on the causes which have influenced these 

 birds to remain through the summer with us. 



In the first place, it must not be overlooked, that during 

 the last few years, the number of woodcocks stated to have 

 continued throughout the year has increased so much in 

 England and Scotland, that, during the same time, there has 

 been greater attention bestowed on such facts than at any 

 former period, and in consequence, there have been periodical 

 publications — the Magazine of Natural History leading the 

 van — in which any isolated instance of the kind might be re- 

 corded, that would hitherto have been unpublished. But even 

 taking this, circumstance into consideration, there cannot I 

 think be the least doubt that there has been an increase in 

 those countries ; and in Ireland there unquestionably has 

 been*. 



That this originated from wounded birds unable to under- 

 take the vernal migration seems the most untenable of all 

 reasons which have been assigned for it, inasmuch as the 

 same cause existed previously. Why should the number of 

 wounded birds have been greater over the British Islands ge- 

 nerally within the last few years than at any former period ? 

 Did our sportsmen become at once more numerous, and is 

 their aim less sure ? Of what avail are all the " appliances 

 and means'^ of modern *^ warfare,^' as the patent cartridge, 

 patent wadding, and percussion caps, if more wounded and 

 unbagged birds are left behind than formerly ? 



The spread of plantations over the face of the country ap- 

 pears to be the predisposing cause, though insufficient to ac- 

 count altogether for the circumstance. These countries cer- 

 tainly had always abundance of places adapted to the nestling 

 of the woodcock ; and though plantations, chiefly in tracts un- 

 suited to cultivation, have been very much extended of late 

 years, others again, especially in Scotland and Ireland, of na- 

 tive growth, and from the excellent cover they afforded, admi- 

 rably adapted to this end, have been swept away, and the 



• This fact appears the more singular on account of the number of wood- 

 cocks that winter in the British Islands having diminished rather than in- 

 creased of late years. 



