300 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
deavouring to lead the intruder either from its nest or 
young ones. 
No, it can't be that. There is another bird just like it, 
with its prey in its claws ; it has risen, and carried the bird 
it was eating some distance further on. That is no bird of 
prey, but the mate of the woodcock, and being with her 
young, and tending one of them in an exposed situation, 
she has carried it to a place of safety. On looking at the 
formation of the woodcock's feet, people would think this 
was impossible ; but it is nevertheless a fact, and by 
holding their heels pressed on either side of the young 
bird, their long toes thus extended downwards, a purchase 
is obtained, and they carry the burden easily, though 
hanging lower than a hawk permits his prey to hang when 
carrying it in his talons. 
From observations I have made, I feel convinced that 
the woodcocks carry their young to the swamps and 
feeding-places from the dry spots in the woods where they 
are invariably bred. ... I never knew the young to exceed 
four in number, and when the young are so carried from 
place to place, and put down at a given spot, I think 
an old bird always remains with the first that is so trans- 
ported, to see (the site being strange) that it does not 
stray away." 
In the collection of Dr. Rake, of Fordingbridge, are 
eggs taken at Somerley in 1855, and near Linwood, in 
the New Forest, in 1857. In the same collection also 
is another clutch of four eggs taken at Islands Thorn, on 
July 1 8th, 1898, — an unusually late date for these birds 
to lay. 
Wise, writing about 1862, says,i— " Many a time in 
^ " New Forest." 
