272 FIELD-NOTES FOU THE VEAH. Cli. XIX. 



of Scotland, not only in the large fir plantations, but 

 also in the smaller patches of birch, &c., which 

 fringe the shores of many of the most northern 

 lakes. That those bred in the country migrate 1 

 have no doubt, as they all invariably disappear for 

 two or three months between summer and the first 

 frosts of winter. As I have seen their nests at all 

 times from March to August, it is natiiial to sup- 

 pose that the woodcock breeds more than once in 

 the season. 



I have again, this year, seen the old woodcocks 

 carrying their young down to the soft, marshy 

 places to feed. Unfitted as their feet appear to be 

 for grasping anything, the old birds must have no 

 slight labour in carrying their whole family (gene- 

 rally consisting of four) every evening to the 

 marshes, and back again in the morning. They 

 always return before sunrise. 



Occasionally I have come upon a brood of young 

 woodcocks in a dark, quiet, swampy part of the 

 woods near which they had probably been bred. In 

 a case of this kind we may suppose that the old 

 birds are sa\ed the trouble of conveying their young 

 to a distant feeding-place ; but as the young birds 

 are frequently hatched in long heather in dry situ- 

 ations, and far from any marshes, they would in- 

 evitably perish in the nest were they not daily 



