384 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
of " aerie "= bird's nest ; so that we have here a very early 
reference to a Woodcock's nest.* 
There are numerous local references to this species in 
both the Statistical Accounts of Scotland, but always 
as a " migratory bird," or " in its season by no means un- 
common." Doubtless insufficient observation in the past, has 
caused many instances of their having bred to have been 
overlooked ; and whether the present numbers of nesting- 
birds is due to a change in habits, or whether our plantations 
are now more numerous and more suitable as breeding-places, 
it is difficult to determine. Mr. R. Service has blamed the 
late springs and cold weather of the late 'seventies," for 
retarding the vernal migration of Woodcock from Scotland! ; 
and I am incHned to think that it is from about some such 
date as this, that they have bred increasingly in the county. 
Undoubtedly about 1900, their numbers as nesting-birds 
became markedly augmented ; and some of my correspondents 
put this date four years earher, and others four years later. 
The Woodcock has its first brood very early, and 
Mr. C. Hyslop found a nest with two eggs at Crawfordton 
* Rotuli Scotiie, 8 Edw. III., Membr., 26. (Printed edition, Vol. I., p. 264). 
IjCLt'hTh i^JCt 
BalUva parcariae de Rex omnibus ad' quos &c. Sciatis quod com- 
Wodecok Heyr in misimus Johanni de la Forest ballivam parcari^ 
^atdkdale commit- de Wodecok Heyr in le Val de Anand m Scotia 
S?uT Johanni de la habendam quamdiu nobis placuerit, percipiendo 
barest in baUiva ilia tantum quantum alii qui ballivam 
illam hactenus habuerimt in eadem percipere 
consueverunt. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud 
Eboracum tertio die Martii. 
Per breve de privato sigillo. 
Translation. 
The office of Bailiff The King to all to whom these Present letters 
of the Park of shall come, greetmg Know ye that we have 
Woodcockair in conferred on John de la Forest the office of 
Ar^andale Scon: BaiUfi of the Park of Woodcockair m the 
ferred on John de Vale of Annan in Scotland, to hold as long as 
a Forest it pleases us, taking in that office so much as 
others who have hitherto held that office have 
been accustomed to take in it. In Witness 
Whereof, &c. Witness, the King, At York, the 
third day of March. 
By Writ of Privy Seal. 
t Kirkcudbright Advertiser, June 28th, 1880. 
