THE ZOOLOGIST. 
THIRD SERIES. 
[No. 85. 
Vous TI1.} NOVEMBER, 1879. 
ON SOME .LITTLE-KNOWN HABITS OF 
EET WO .O.D:C:0.C K; 
By tHe Epirtor. 
Nor many years ago it was currently believed by sportsmen 
that no Woodcocks remained in the British Islands after the 
end of winter, except perhaps a few wounded birds, which were 
unable to cross the sea to their usual breeding-places. Nor 
is this notion yet altogether exploded, so difficult is it to con- 
trovert preconceived ideas which have once firmly taken hold 
of the public mind. 
It is, of course, perfectly true that the greater proportion 
of the Woodcocks which are found here by sportsmen during 
the shooting season are winter visitants, which arrive in October, 
and which, if not killed, would leave the country again in March 
or early in April. But it is equally the fact that a large number 
of Woodcocks annually remain here to pair and nest in suitable 
localities. 
Mr. A. G. More, in his valuable remarks in ‘ The Ibis,’ “ On 
the Distribution of Birds in Great Britain during the Nesting 
Season,” observes that the nest of the Woodcock is by no means 
so rare as is generally supposed. The bird is reported as breeding 
occasionally in nearly every county throughout England and the 
South of Scotland. Farther north it becomes more numerous, 
and may be considered to breed regularly from Perthshire 
3K 
