ON THE MIGRATION OF WOODCOCK. 



159 



9. Ad Experimental Investigation of the Migration of 

 Woodcock breeding in the West of Ireland. By S. R. 

 Douglas, M.R.O.S., L.R.C.P. Lond., Captain I.M.S. 

 (retired), F.Z.S., 1st Assistant Bacteriological Depart- 

 ment, Medical Research Committee, National Insurance 

 Act. 



[Received February 15, 1917 : Read March 6, 1917.] 



To ascertain if the woodcock breeding in the British Islands 

 are migratory in their habits has from time to time been the 

 subject of investigations. These investigations have usually taken 

 the form of marking a number of nestling birds, generally by 

 means of metal rings placed round the legs, and collecting the 

 data furnished by the recovery of these birds in various 

 localities. 



The best known of such experiments which have been 

 published up to the present time are : — 



(i.) That made on the Duke of Northumberland's estate at 

 Alnwick and reported by Lord William Percy in ' Country 

 Life,' 1909, Feb. 27th. 



(ii.) That made at Baron's Court, Co. Tyrone, and reported by 

 Hamilton in 'The Field,' 1908, Oct. 17th, p. 717, and 

 Oct. 24th, p. 745. 



(iii.) Other references dealing with smaller experiments are to be 

 found in ' British Birds,' vol. iv. p. 280, and vol. v. p. 186 ; 

 and also in the report of the Aberdeen University Bird 

 Migration Inquiry. 



The experiment, the details of which are here given, has been 

 carried out at the instigation of Col. W. W. Ashley, M.P., of 

 Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire, and the Palmerston Estates, 

 Co. Sligo, who has most kindly given me permission to publish 

 the results obtained up to the present time. 



Before giving the actual details of the numbers of birds 

 marked year by year and the numbers recovered, etc., it is 

 necessary to describe accurately the situation where the expe- 

 riment was carried out, and to give a description of the breeding- 

 grounds, together with a few notes on the nesting-habits of 

 woodcock in this locality. 



Col. Ashley's property consists of a strip of country lying 

 between the Ben Bulben range and the southern shore of the 

 Bay of Donegal in the County of Sligo, the position being almost 

 exactly 8° 30 7 west and 54° 30' north. 



It is composed largely of small holdings which have been 

 vested in the tenants under the various Land Acts, but it also- 

 contains a considerable extent of bog-land and some fine coverts 

 made up of both hard and soft wood trees. These woods during 

 the winter months harbour a considerable number of woodcock, 



