Class II. WOODCOCK. 435 



was the fize of that of a pigeon. They are re- 

 markably tame during incubation ; a perfon who 

 diicovered one on its neft, has often flood over, 

 and even ftroaked it: notwithstanding which it 

 hatched the young - 9 and in due time disappeared 

 with them. 



Thefe birds appear in Scotland firit on the eaft- 

 ern coafts, and make their progrefs from Eaft to 

 JVeft. They do not arrive in Breadalbane, a cen- 

 tral part of the kingdom tili the beginning or mid- 

 dle of November : and the coafts of Nether Lorn*, 

 or of Rojfihire, till December or January : are very 

 rare in the more remote Hebrides^ or in the Orknies. 

 A few Itragglers now and then arrive there. They 

 are equally fcarce in Cathnefs* I do not recoiled: 

 that any have been difcovered to have bred in 

 North Britain. 



Their autumnal and vernal appearances on the 

 coaft of Suffolk have been moil accurately marked 

 by Sir* John Cidlum^ Bar*, who favoured me with 

 the following curious account 



From fome old and experienced fportfmen, who 

 live on the coaft, I collected the following particu- 

 lars. They come over fparingly in the firft week 

 of Oclober^ the greater numbers not arriving tili 

 the months of November and December^ and always 

 after fun-fet. It is the wind and not the moon that 

 determines the time of their arrival : and it is pro- 

 bable that this fhould be the cafe, as tfiey come hi- 

 ther in queft of food, which fails then in the 



Vol. II. G g places 



