26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



indulged in early in the morning and late in the evening, in the 

 pairing season, sometimes before it reaches its breeding grounds, but 

 more often after its arrival there. This roding continues for about a 

 quarter of an hour, during which his peculiar notes are uttered, 

 sometimes singly and sometimes one following the other.'" 



Dresser quoting Ekstrom gives in greater detail the manner in which 

 the Woodcock rodes. He writes : — " During the first days of spring the 

 Woodcock commences roding the instant the sun has sunk below the 

 horizon, but at a more advanced period somewhat before its final 

 disappearance and continues until nightfall. In the morning it 

 begins roding whilst it is still quite dark, and ceases previous to its 

 being full daylight. When he rodes there is always an interval 

 between each tour and retour, which is more observable in the 

 evening, when it goes and returns there several times. The first 

 time it always flies high and generally with rapidity, the second its 

 flight is but little above the tree tops, and commonly slower, the 

 third time still nearer the ground and yet more leisurely." Oates 

 who quotes both these authors adds " when flying about in this extra- 

 ordinary manner the plumage is puffed out and the flight is rather 

 slow." 



Oates' remarks agree well with what was told me by a game- 

 keeper in Wales, who said that he had observed Woodcock just 

 before they left in March roding outside some of the spinnies I 

 have mentioned in my account of a day's shooting in Wales. This 

 man informed me that just at dusk the cock came out of the cover 

 and sailed slowly backwards and forwards a few times in front of it. 

 At first the flights were high, but gradually the birds got lower and 

 lower until reaching the level of the scrub they again disappeared 

 into it. Each flight was said to be in the shape of a long arc, the 

 highest points being reached at the end and commencement of it, 

 whilst in length they were anything from 50 yards to 200 or more. 

 The bird was described as flying slowly with plumage puffed out, 

 head thrown far back and bill somewhat pointed upwards. I did not 

 inquire how many times the flights were repeated, but the impres- 

 sion I obtained was that they were numerous and lasted for some 

 time. 



In this country Mr. F. Wilson, whose note I have already quoted, 

 seems to be the only writer who has recorded anything in regard to 



