508 Mr. C. Collier on the Birds 



ventured too close to their territory. The eggs vary from 

 three to four, the former being the usual number. 



Woodcock. Scolopa.r rust leu I a. 



This island is one of the most favoured spots for Woodcock, 

 if not the most favoured of all, in Great Britain or Ireland. 

 The mild climate, coupled with the large number of springs, 

 feeding-places, and excellent cover, no doubt accounts for 

 the quantity of immigrants which arrive about the first week 

 in November. They breed here to a certain extent ; there 

 are, perhaps, from twenty to twenty-five nests a year. I found 

 one in the spring of 1898 with four eggs: three were hatched 

 off, the fourth addled. The following spring a nest \\;ls 

 made only nine inches from the previous year's site, again 

 with the result of one bad and three fertile eggs. In 

 1901 a nest was found only two feet away from the old 

 place; this time all four eggs were good. The home-bred 

 birds leave their breeding-haunts between the .20th and the 

 end of July and frequent the bracken-beds at a much higher 

 elevation, remaining there until about the 10th of September, 

 when they migrate. The autumn immigrants begin to arrive 

 from November 3rd to 5th, and at first scatter all over the open 

 ground. As shewing the numbers that arrive, nearly nine 

 hundred were killed in the winter of 1894-95 and four hundred 

 and ninety-six in 1901-02. The severe spells of frost in the 

 winters of 1894 and 1895 caused great havoc amongst them, 

 no less than eleven being picked up dead by one frozen spring. 

 On at least twelve occasions I have watched the old birds 

 carrying their young to the feeding-grounds. For some 

 years I weighed every Woodcock shot, the two heaviest being 

 16i and 16^ oz. respectively; but these were exceptional 

 weights, the average working out at 12£ oz. ; this is a big 

 average, but is accounted for by the exceptionally good 

 feeding. The latest nest was on the 20th of June, with four 

 fresh eggs, which were all hatched. 



Common Snipe. Gallinago coelestis. 



Breeds in all places suited to its habits. It seems 

 occasionally to have two nests a year, as I have found fresh 



