LITTLE-KNOWN HABITS OF THE WOODCOCK. 437 
sticks near the Woodcock, she rose, and trailing her wings along the 
ground, pattered round the stump of the birches, but stopped as she heard 
the wail of the little bird, which was running about like a tiny ball of 
brown chenille. In the nest there were two more eggs unhatched, but out 
of one I saw a little sharp bill and half of another small head peeping 
through the shell, and to relieve the anxiety of the madre, therefore, 
I immediately turned from her retreat, and dived down the terrace into the 
wood. Near the place where I found her there was a soft green ‘stripe,’ 
such as Woodcocks love. I had no doubt the family would be there next 
day; and as I passed near I tummed aside to see what they were doing. 
Upon a dry bank, half-way down the brae, I almost stumbled over a bird 
which rose at my feet ; and as it darted through the trees I saw that it had 
something in its claws, and at the same time I heard the plaintive cry of 
the little Woodcocks just under my feet. I looked down; there were two: 
and I thought a hawk had carried off the third, and perhaps killed the 
mother. I saw the bird light, as hawks very often do, especially in a close 
wood, when they have just caught their prey, and are impatient to satisfy 
their appetite. I sprang down the bank, determined, if I could not save 
the little victim, to spoil the hawk’s breakfast. I flushed the bird so 
suddenly, that, after a low flight of only a few yards, it dropped what it 
was carrying, and instantly lighted not half-a-dozen paces distant. I van 
to pick up the mangled prey, when to my surprise I found a vigorous little 
Woodcock running about as nimble and active as its madre could wish. 
T looked for the hawk, but in his stead saw the old Woodcock, in great 
consternation, trailing her wings as if wounded, and busy to attract my 
notice. As soon as I followed, she led me away, hirpling and halting like 
an ‘old wife,’ taking little flights, which became longer as she drew me 
farther ; till at last, thinking she had sufficiently succeeded, she took a turn 
down the brae, rose over the trees, and wheeling back dropped on the spot 
where she had left her charge. I gave her a little time to find him, which 
was not difficult, as he continued to call her as loud as his tiny bill could 
pipe. In a few moments I ran forward, and she rose with him in her feet, 
her long legs dangling and swinging with her little burden like a parachute. 
She lighted at no great distance, and as I again came upon her she got up, 
but in her burry dropped the young bird. I instantly stopped, for she 
came to the ground almost at the same time with the little one, and she ran 
back and sat upon him, and rose again with him in her claws. I left her | 
to pursue her flight in peace, and went on to my pass; but I have no doubt 
she went back for the other two, for, several times afterwards, I saw them 
all together in the soft green ‘ glac.’” 
This very circumstantial account from so good au observer 
leaves no room for doubt in the mind of the reader, but an 
