BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 127 



t 



The first flights are succeeded later in the season by 

 others, which keep dropping in throughout October 

 and November ; and I have known some of our largest 

 arrivals during the last week in the latter month. 

 Occasionally also, should the weather be very severe, 

 Woodcocks will come in December. These latter, how- 

 ever, are probably from some of the northern counties, 

 and not from the north of Europe. The Woodcock, 

 as a rule, when once fairly established in its winter 

 quarters, seldom wanders far from home. The best 

 Woodcock-covers in North Lincolnshire are Lord 

 Yarborougfr's Manby preserves and the woods of Sir 

 John Nelthorpe. In both these localities several re- 

 main each year throughout the summer months and 

 breed. 



Woodcocks evince a great partiality for some 

 favourite plantation or spot in a cover j they are also 

 very partial to oak-woods ; and their presence may be 

 detected by examining the ground under the trees, 

 as in their search for food they turn over the dead 

 leaves, laying them with great regularity, but the 

 other side upwards. 



They return to the coast about the first week in 

 March ; and I have not found them in our plantations 

 later than the middle of that month. 



16 ounces ; and that was shot very late in the autumn, and ex- 

 cessively fat." Game-birds and Wild Fowl of Norway and 

 Sweden. 



