440 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
The old bird then returned and clucked about like a hen to draw 
the rest of the brood to her. His friend had observed the same 
proceeding on several occasions. * 
Thus it is placed beyond doubt that the Woodcock is able to 
transport. its young, in various positions, from place to place, not 
only when flying from its enemies, but also when going out to 
feed and returning. 
This curious habit is not confined to the European Wood- 
cock, but, according to Audubon and others, has been observed 
also in the American species. More recently, too, it has been 
witnessed in England in the case of the Common Snipe. A well- 
known sportsman who has adopted the pseudonym of ‘ Idstone,” 
writing in ‘ The Field’ of 30th May, 1874, says that on the 22nd 
of the same month, when crossing a marsh on his way to a trout 
stream, a Snipe rose almost at his feet, “‘and there was attached 
to it, mostly on its left or near side, a young Snipe, which it 
carried, or which clung to it, for about twenty-five yards.” He 
could distinctly see the markings on the young one, and is 
therefore positive that he was not mistaken. The locality was 
close to Laurence’s Mill, Morden, Dorsetshire. In the same 
number of ‘The Field,’ Mr. John Titterton, of Ely, Cambridge- 
shire, states that a similar thing was observed near Ely, also in 
May of the same year. 
These observations confirm our impression that, while the old 
birds are able to carry their young in two or three different 
positions, that which has been so skilfully depicted by Mr. Wolf, 
in the accompanying plate, is probably the one most commonly 
employed. 
* «The Birds of Norfolk,’ vol, ii. pp. 292, 293. 
