106 NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
continuance of open weather. In January, 1916, during a spell 
of very hard frost and a slight fall of snow, the Woodcock 
did not leave, but congregated in little lots of three to four, 
on the ‘‘ black ’’ patches. under Oaks, Birches, etc., near 
running water, and were most confiding, being often seen 
running on the ground and feeding. In January, 1917, after 
a break up of frost and snow, Mr A. R. Greaves saw eight 
‘cock at a burst drain in his garden at Dalmakerran (Tynron). 
The seasons 1917-18, 1918-19, and 1919-20 were disappoint- 
ing from a shooting point of view, but in 1920-21 Woodcock 
were more than usually plentiful in Dumfriesshire; possibly 
because we were fortunate in not having as much snow as 
elsewhere. 
Shooting at Dalswinton (Kirkmahoe} cn 6th December, 
1919, I saw a Woodcock kill itself by flying against a single 
telegraph wire: though I have seen Partridges, Pheasants, 
Grouse, and other birds killed thus I have never before seen 
a Woodcock immolate itself in this way. 
As already mentioned (p. 96). I was sent the feet of a 
Woodcock, from Thornhill (Morton) in December, 19:2, 
which appeared to show signs of tuberculosis. 
(Recovery of ringed birds, see pp. 30, 31, antea.) 
The COMMON SNIPE (p. 380). Befcre 1870, bags of 
from thirty to forty couple of Snipe were not infrequently 
obtained on Lochar Moss, and I have been told that sixty-one 
couple were shot there by three guns one autumn day in 1868 
or 1869. The late Cecil Laurie and I shot thirteen and a half 
couple on Breccoes farm (Keir) on 8th August, 1910. Of 
recent years Snipe have been extraordinarily scarce locally ; 
possibly the unusually severe winter of November, 1916, to 
February, 1917, may have played havoc with the birds but, 
whatever the cause, the species has been conspicuous by its 
absence and has not, as yet, shown any sign of attaining its 
previous numerical strength. During the drought of June and 
July, 1921, Snipe collected together in large quantities wher- 
ever there still remained suitable feeding-ground : on 4th July 
{ flushed from fifty to sixty at Clonhie (Penpont) and on 22nd 
