NOTES. 89 



A recently-hatched Woodcock was caught by the keeper who 

 accompanied the party. The young bird was liberated after 

 a satisfactory examination had been made. 



C. Hawkins. 



[In his notes (Zool., 1901, 253) supplementary to the 

 " Birds of Surrey," Mr. J. A. Bucknill (fide F. B. P. Long) 

 records that the Woodcock breeds regularly in Bagshot 

 Woods, while in a further contribution (t.c, 1902, 308) the 

 same writer says that it used to nest regularly in the Thursley 

 district.— H. F. W.l 



LATE NESTING OF THE WOODCOCK. 



There can be little doubt that the Woodcock (Scolopax 

 rusticula) is often, if not generally, double brooded. I have 

 known two clutches of eggs to be laid in the same nest, the 

 first brood having successfully hatched off ; then, again, I 

 have known fresh eggs in July, and others on the point of 

 hatching by the second week in April. It is interesting to 

 note the increase of the Woodcock as a breeding species in 

 this country. On Spey Side a few years ago they were 

 uncommon, now they might almost be called numerous. On 

 one small estate seven nests were known to hatch-off last 

 year, and one evening this season I had the pleasure of 

 watching at least a dozen birds flighting to their feeding ground. 



Heatley Noble. 



SNIPE PERCHING. 



A number of correspondents, among whom we may mention 

 Messrs. H. W. Mapleton, Heatley Noble, H. W. Robinson 

 Sydney H. Smith, and J. Whitaker, have sent us notes with 

 reference to the Snipe perching upon posts, fences, hedges, etc. 

 The habit, as we have already mentioned {supra, p. 59), has 

 often been recorded. To the species we have already named 

 as perching on trees in their breeding grounds, Mr. W. J. 

 Clarke adds the Black-tailed Godwit, which he has observed 

 in Holland perching upon the topmost twigs of tall bushes 

 and trees, just as the Bar-tailed Godwit does in Lapland. 



Eds. 



INCREASE OF THE REDSHANK IN CLYDE. 



In the Blantyre district of the Clyde Valley a remarkable 

 change in distribution and numbers has taken place in regard 

 to the Redshank (T. calidris). Ten years ago one or two 



