NOTES. 129 



hatching. Most bird-observers and alas ! most bird-keepers 

 have had only too many similar experiences. The action of 

 the Water-Rail may, I think, be compared to that of a bitch, 

 cat, rabbit or ferret, all of which will remove or eat their 

 young when disturbed. The domestic fowl will also do it, and 

 I have seen a Wild-Duck, when suddenly surprised while her 

 eggs were hatching, pick up a young one and carry it some 

 yards. Ei Q m b. Meade-Waldo. 



LATE NESTING OF THE WOODCOCK. 

 A good many Woodcock breed in Morayshire, and in May I 

 saw, or was told of, five or six nests in the woods adjoining 

 the house, which had all hatched successfully by May 20th. 

 They were, I think, first broods, as this is an exceptionally 

 late season. On August 5th the head-keeper informed me 

 that a Woodcock was sitting on four eggs close to his house, 

 while another nest had hatched off on the previous day. Two 

 days later the first nest hatched off, the old bird going away 

 with two young and leaving two chipped eggs behind. Pro- 

 bably a closer search would have resulted in the discovery of 

 more nests, as in 1907 I was shown a nest at an even later 

 date. j Davidson. 



BLACK-TAILED GOD WIT IN WIGTOWNSHIRE. 



When watching for birds on the shores of Luce Bay on 

 August 13th a couple of Godwits flew up and pitched within 

 twenty to thirty yards of me. 



One of them was almost, if not quite, in summer plumage, 

 and I felt sure from its size was a Black-tailed Godwit 

 (Limosa belgica). 



I was soon able to confirm my suspicion as the bird began 

 to clean itself, constantly raising its wings and showing the 

 black tail in contrast to the white lower rump. From time 

 to time also it flew a few yards, giving me a good view of 

 the conspicuous white wing-bar. 



The second bird was in immature plumage, being brownish- 

 grey all over with dark markings, and I was unable to detect 

 the white wing-bar when it flew ; but as the two birds sat at 

 one time within a foot of each other I could see that there 

 was practically no difference in size and have no doubt that 

 it belonged to the same species. M Bedford. 



NUMBER OF EGGS LAID BY TERNS. 

 I should imagine that in the case of the Terns as with other 

 species, the number of eggs laid is to a certain extent regulated 



