WOODCOCKS TILTING 



CHAPTER XXVIII 



Woodcock's nest : Early Breeding of ; Habits of, in Spring ; First Arrival of ; Anec- 

 dotes of; Manner of Cariying their Young — Habits of Snipe— Number of Jack- 

 Snipes —Solitary Snipe. 



March g, 1846. — A woodcock's nest, with three eggs, was 

 brought to me to-day. Two years ago, a boy brought me a 

 young woodcock nearly full-grown, and fledged, in the second 

 week of April — the exact day I do not remember. Reckoning 

 from this, I should suppose that the woodcock is about the first 

 bird to hatch in this country. A few years ago, it was supposed 

 that none remained in Britain after the end of winter, except a 

 few wounded birds, which were unable to cross the sea to their 

 usual breeding-places. 



