WOODCOCKS 337 



The sea walls and sea banks, especially when rough fringed 

 with grass, are favourite places for these new arrivals, which in 

 Lincolnshire are in good condition when they first come in, 

 but are said to be poor and weak on arrival on the shores 

 of Devon. In Ireland the first arrivals, and the majority, settle 

 on the extreme north. Next in proportion, lighthouse informa- 

 tion shows, they arrive by the west coast. The snipe also 

 arrive mostly from the north, but the jack snipe come in 

 largest numbers to the south-east coast of Ireland. This 

 points to the conclusion that woodcock arrive mostly from 

 Scotland, and it is suggested that those which breed farthest 

 north first move south by stress of weather. It is also 

 suggested that our home-bred woodcock do not remain in the 

 winter, but move late in August or early in September. These 

 contentions are evidently conflicting, and it is probable that the 

 first is right, and that our home-bred birds remain where food 

 and shelter is plentiful, and only move when they are not. The 

 absence of home-bred birds in certain coverts in September 

 has often been noted after they have been constantly observed 

 in August, but this can often be accounted for by the springs 

 running dry in the latter part of August, and available food 

 being consequently scarce. The old birds are said to moult in 

 September, and if this is correct it is a very good reason why 

 they should be difficult to find then ; and if this habit is 

 invariable, it would be clear evidence against the home-breeding 

 birds migrating in that month. 



It appears that woodcock can be encouraged by planting 

 in suitable places, and that this encouragement is not only to 

 the migrants, but induces more birds to remain and breed here. 

 The increase of the latter habit has been a startling and 

 pleasing fact in natural history. Its originating cause is not 

 known, but that an enormous increase has taken place is freely 

 admitted. As the birds themselves have started this habit, it 

 appears that it is only necessary to spare large numbers of these 

 natives to still further increase the number of home-breeding 

 'cock. 



But no way of distinguishing them when on the wing seems 



22 



