270 CHAEADEIID^E 



bound, the bird can remain in the woods and search among 

 the decaying leaves for insects, but it is only as a last 

 resort in continued hard weather that it visits the tidal 

 slob-lands, or searches among the rocks and seaweed for 

 shell-fish. 



Many writers have observed that a very severe frost 

 and snow in Britain induces a strong westerly movement, 

 the birds appearing along the west snores of Scotland and 

 Ireland in great numbers. Here the migrants are usually 

 brought to a halt, some which ventured further having 

 been found drowned in flocks in the ocean. 



Voice. In winter the Woodcock is practically voiceless, 

 though a slight sound like uk ilk uk has been heard from 

 a bird when flushed ; but from February onward through 

 the breeding-season, peculiar notes are uttered during the 

 evening flight, when the birds proceed and return along an 

 accustomed course over the woods. The sound then heard 

 is a triple croak, usually followed by a hissing whistle, 

 the latter is often uttered in early spring before the croak 

 is taken up. 



Nest. This species breeds in timbered situations, making 

 its nest on the ground. In some instances this is concealed 

 from view, but not over-hung, by tall herbs, brackens, and 

 shrubby undergrowth (Plate XX.), but in other cases I 

 have seen it on soft, dry ground thinly covered with stunted 

 grasses and mosses. The eggs are sometimes laid in a 

 mere hollow, without any lining ; or a ring-fence is formed 

 of fir-needles and other dead material round the nesting- 

 hollow ; but I have also seen well-formed nests made 

 of and lined with dead leaves, to which bits of bracken 

 and stems were added. I have found, however, that it is 

 almost impossible to remove a nest and retain its contour 

 perfectly intact, without digging up a portion of the sur- 

 rounding soil. The eggs, four in number, vary from light 

 to dark shades of buff and stone-brown, blotched and 

 spotted with grey and brown. The female sits closely on 

 her eggs, especially when they are nearly incubated. The 

 parent-birds display great affection and care for their brood, 

 and show undoubted courage when an enemy appears on 

 the scene. Mr. Ussher states that when a former game- 

 keeper of his was " walking with beagles through a wood 

 where these birds were breeding, one of them alighted in 

 front of a dog and, running forward, flapped its wings at 

 the animal with loud cries " ('Birds of Ireland,' p. 274). 



