E 2I 3 ] 



any part of England : our country therefore is certainly not too 

 hot for them. 



Woodcocks appear and difappear almoft exactly about the fame 

 time in every part of Europe, and perhaps Africa g : heat and cold, 

 therefore, feem not to have any operation whatfoever with regard 

 to the fuppofed migration of this bird. 



But it may be faid, what fignifies proving the probability of 

 woodcocks breeding in England,, if it is not a known fact that 

 they do fo ? 



To this it Ihould feem there are feveral anfwers, as it is equal- 

 ly incumbent upon thofe who contend for migration, to mew 

 that thefe birds were ever feen on fuch paffage.. 



Another anfwer is, afk ninety-nine people out of a hundred, 

 whether fnipes ever make a neft in England ; and they will im- 

 mediately fay, that they do not ; fo little are facts or obfervations 

 of this fort attended to\. 



But 



s Shaw's Travels, Phyf. Obf. ch.ii. 



h I have fcarcely ever been in company when this fubject hath been 

 ftarted but that fome of thofe who were prefent have mentioned inftances 

 of wooacocks nefis being found in different parts of England ; and a 

 Suffex farmer near Cuckfield hath kept feveral, feeding them on worms* 

 A- pair of fuch woodcocks were given by this farmer to Lord Montague 

 in December 1778. They were cock and hen, being called by the name 

 of Derby and Joan ; but one of them, after having lurvived the journey 

 to London, and continued there a few days, died before it could be fent 

 to Cowdry. 



In an aviary of the Infant Don Lewis's at St. Ildelfonfo, there were 

 many woodcocks [chocas] which had been kept there feveral years. In 

 this aviary there was a fountain, as alfo a pine tree, and fome fhruhs, to 

 keep the ground always moift, whilft the woodcocks were likewife fre^ 

 quently fupplied with frefh Ibds from the neighbouring foreft, as full of 

 worms \ combrices~) as they could be procured. Though thefe worms hid 

 themfelves in the fods, yet the. woodcocks, by their . fmell, foon found 

 them out, darting their bills into the fods only as far as the nofti ils ; 



after. 



