122 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



at once concluded that the nest, and perchance his 

 mate (supposing this to be the male bird), would be 

 found somewhere within the same boundary. I 

 now, therefore, rose and walked steadily up to the 

 spot, the bird either rising higher on the wing, or 

 perching at intervals upon the heather. He allowed 

 me to approach sufficiently close to fire, but before I 

 did so I stumbled upon the nest containing, or rather 

 upon which stood, the female bird and four young' 

 ones. This was a gratifying discovery after my long 

 ramble, and the spectacle was immensely enhanced by 

 another circumstance which illustrated the providence 

 and care of the parent birds in a most interesting 

 manner. Neatly disposed at equidistant points around 

 the margin of the nest, which resembled a flat circular 

 dish daintily garnished for the table, lay the result of 

 the male bird's foraging activity in the shape of two 

 large field mice and a young linnet. The young birds 

 were about half-fledged, and in another fortnight would 

 have been able to shift for themselves. In addition to 

 them I succeeded in securing both the parent birds in 

 excellent condition. Mr. Broderip, in his ' Zoological 

 Recreations,' says that " this owl, though found 

 breeding in these parts, regularly migrates to our 

 island, from the north, about October ; and in conse- 

 quence of the general arrival of these birds in the 

 southern parts of Britain with the first fair October 

 winds, they are called woodcock owls, an appellation 



