254 scolopacim;. 



The birds bred in this park are believed to remain constantly in or 

 about it ; no diminution of numbers, as in some of the Scottish woods, 

 having been observed between the time that the young are able to 

 migrate and the first flight arrives from the north of Europe. On the 

 evening of the 19th of September (1849), when the letter containing 

 these observations was written to me, several birds were seen, as they are 

 daily at all times. In August or September they begin to alter their 

 summer evening excursions, and take more to their winter habit of 

 visiting the marshes. They become quite silent, and if not sprung in 

 the woods, are seen only in the twilight or by night. The keeper has 

 imagined that he knew the native birds when shot during the winter, by 

 their being a bttle smaller in size, and lighter in colour, than the migra- 

 tory ones ; — an opinion in which two sportsmen whom he attended last 

 season were disposed to coincide. For the first week of woodcock 

 shooting, the buds were very plentiful and all of the light colour, while 

 afterwards the larger and darker-coloured birds made their appearance. 



On visiting Tollymore Park (accompanied by Mr. R. Ball), at the 

 end of September 1849, I saw a nest formed chiefly of furze or whins 

 of which there is a considerable quantity ; the other component mate- 

 rial being the twigs of larch-fir. This nest, on account of the singular 

 substance of which it is composed, was carefully preserved, and with its 

 four eggs is kept as a curiosity in Lord Eoden's study. The site of a 

 nest within twenty yards of the keeper's house was pointed out ; it is 

 placed on a gently sloping bank, from which some noble beech and 

 other ornamental trees arise. The ground was hollowed out for this nest, 

 and a large number of beech-leaves used in its construction ; ivy trailed 

 on the bank around, and woodbine arched itself lightly and grace- 

 fully over it. In such places are many of the nests ; none having 

 ever been found among brambles ("briars") or close cover of any 

 kind. They are instead, in rather open places within the covers, and 

 always on dry ground, the opposite of that on which the birds obtain 

 their food. They are found at all kinds of elevation, from the base of 



perish unless the old ones managed to carry them to some more favourable feeding- 

 ground. 



" Nor is the food of the woodcock of such a nature that it could be taken to the 

 young from the swamps in any sufficient quantity. Neither could the old birds bring 

 with it the moisture which is necessary for the subsistence of all birds of this kind. 

 In fact they have no means of feeding their young except by carrying them to their 

 food, for they cannot carry their food to them." — ' Tour in Sutherlandshire,' &c. 

 vol. ii. p. 164-166. 



