112 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



hear the note of this Rail at night as the bird flies 

 to and fro about the air, as if serenading its mate. 

 It is an early breeder, the nest being ready for 

 eggs very early in April. The nest of the " Skiddy 

 Cock," as the bird is locally known, is one of the 

 most difficult to find, the parents rarely contributing 

 to its discovery by their actions. The Spotted Crake 

 does not appear to breed anywhere in Devonshire, 

 although there are so many localities seemingly 

 suited to its requirements. We know it as passing 

 us on migration only, still there seems little doubt 

 that a few birds remain to winter in the county, 

 and we should not be at all surprised to hear of 

 the discovery of its nest within our limits. October 

 brings us the Woodcock. It is true a comparatively 

 insignificant number of these birds breed in the 

 county, but Devon is a specially favourite resort 

 of the species during winter. Its freedom from 

 long-continued frosts, and the mild humid con- 

 ditions prevailing especially in the south, make the 

 county par excellence a Woodcock haunt. We shall 

 have occasion to allude to this species in a future 

 chapter (cf. p. 174), but we introduce it here in 

 order to say that during snowy weather we have 

 not unfrequently flushed it from the osier beds and 



