FURTHER NOTES OX BIRDS ABOLT SIMLA. Ill 



The "Woodcock, Scohpax rusticola, L. 



On the 19th November I shot a Woodcock on the Kufri road 

 at about 8,000 feet. It was feeding in thick undergrowth just 

 above the road and so close to it that a dog with me scented it 

 from the road and ran up and flushed it. This bird Mas extremely 

 fat and was preserved with difhculty. A second bird was apparent- 

 ly flushed the same evening but I did not actually see it, thougli 

 a man with me declared that it had risen in front of him from 

 a path. In support of his statement he showed me fresh borings 

 which might have been made by a Woodcock. 



This appears a suitable opportunity also to record the fact that 

 the Woodcock has at last been proved to breed close to Simla. 



On loth May 1919 a valued correspondent met a hen Wood- 

 cock with 4 chicks only 2 or 3 days old, in the downy plumage ; 

 these were in fairly heavy jungle about ^,oU0 ft. My correspon- 

 dent caught the 4 chicks and the old bird came quite close to- 

 him in her anxiety until 3 of the chicks were given back to her : 

 the fourth was preserved for me and it is now in the collection 

 of Capt. C. B. Ticehurst. On the same day in the same locality a 

 nest was found containing a single chipped and dented egg 

 which was quite fresh but apparently deserted. No bird was seen 

 near it and it was finally taken on the 19th May and given to me : 

 it measures 47*o X 34*o mm. and is in my opinion undoubtedly 

 the egg of a Woodcock. 



