126 WOODCOCK. 



birds in this manner, as their nests are generally placed in dry heathery woods, where 

 the young would inevitably perish unless the old ones managed to carry them to some 

 more favourable feeding-ground." 



"Snipes, Redshanks, and several other birds of this genus, are hatched and brought up 

 on the same kind of ground on which they feed; but Woodcocks, in this country at 

 least, are generally hatched far from the marshes, and therefore the old birds must of 

 necessity carry their helpless young to these places, or leave them to starve in the dry 

 heather; 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 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." The same fact has also been affirmed by 

 several other observers, and Mr. St. John's personal testimony we conceive to be conclusive 

 evidence of their doing so, though Gilbert White considered the feat improbable; yet it 

 is surely less so than that asserted by Buffon, who says that they "take a weak one 

 under their throat, and carry it more than a thousand paces." Bewick quotes this, and 

 as he gives no other explanation or conjecture, it is to be supposed that he looked upon it 

 as possible. "Loudon's Magazine of Natural History" contains several records of Woodcocks 

 carrying their young in their feet, and to it we refer those of our readers who may 

 still have any doubts on the subject. 



Its method of feeding is by probing the soft muddy ground with its long bill, the 

 extremity of which is covered, as is also the case with all the birds of this genus, with 

 an extremely sensitive membrane, which probably possesses more than mere sensation. 

 Any worm which happens to be within reach of its bill becomes a sure victim; and the 

 operation of probing is said by Daniels, who had the opportunity of seeing these birds 

 in confinement, to be "performed in an instant, and the action of the Woodcock was so 

 equal and imperceptible, that it seemed doing nothing : it never missed its aim." The 

 feeding-places of these birds may be detected by the small holes left by their borings, 

 and the same ground is frequented night after night. 



The flight of the Woodcock is, during the day, generally, slow and steady ; and as it 

 rises without much noise, it does not paralyze the young sportsman's nerves, as some of 

 our other game birds do; and he consequently finds it not a very difficult shot, partic- 

 ularly where its flight is not impeded by trees or other obstacles. At night, when going 

 to or returning from its feeding-grounds, its flight is very rapid, and its utmost speed 

 when endeavouring to escape imminent danger, is extraordinarily quick. 



The following account from a sporting publication, is so interesting, that we quote it 

 at length: — "It was growing towards evening, and I was about to return to the village 

 of Golgate, when my attention was attracted by the rapid flight of two birds, one 



