[ 



3i2 1 



the banks of the Danube, no one ever obferved the 

 neft. 



This bird is rather uncommon in England j (6 that 

 if 1 afk when the neCt was ever found within the 

 verge of the ilLmd, it may be considered as rather 

 an unfair challenge. 



There is another bird, however, called a red- 

 poll *, which is taken in numbers during the Michael- 

 mas and March flights by the London bird-catchers, 

 whole neft, I believe, was never difcovered in Eng- 

 land, though J have feen them in pairs during the 

 fummer, both in the mountainous parts of Wales 

 and highlands of Scotland -j-. 



But I (hall now mention another proof that wood- 

 cocks breed in England. 



The Reverend Mr. White, of Sclborn, who is 

 not only a well-read naturalift, but an adlive fportf- 

 man, informs me, that he hath frequently killed 

 woodcocks in March, which, upon being opened, 

 had the rudiments of eggs in them, and that it is 

 ullial at that time to fluih them in pairs. Willughby 

 alio obferves the fame j. 



This bird, therefore, certainly pairs before its 

 fuppoled migration ; and can it be corceived that 

 this flricft union (which birds in a wild ftate fo faith- 

 fully adhere to) ||, {hould take place before they 



* Brit. Zoo!., p. 312. 



f This eiegant lutle bird is very common in Hudfon's Ba< r , 

 where it feeds chiefly on the birch trees ; which being more 

 Cymmon in the northern than fuuthern patts of Great Britain, 

 may account for the bird's being more often feen northward. 



% B. III. c. i. 



j) It is believed that no mule-bird was ever feen in a wild 

 ftate, notwithstanding M. de Buffun fufpects many an intrigue 



traverfe 



