WOODCOCK. 
3 
and about the springs Woodcocks remained in good condition. On the 15th of September, 1869, dm’ing 
the course of a few hours’ easy walking along the shore of the Dornoch Kirth, in the east of Ross-shire, my bag 
consisted of one couple of Cocks, ten brace of Partridges, and two hares ; twenty-four cartridges expended. 
This was the first day of the season that Cocks had been seen in the vicinity of the coast ; the keeper (who 
ought to have been an authority) considered these birds the adv'ance guard of the migrants that would shortly 
arrive from the north. Small birds (Meadow-Pipits predominating in numbers) were swarming in the fields 
within a short distance of the firth. 
An impression formerly existed that W'^oodcocks transported their unfledged young from one spot 
to another by lifting them in their beaks ; this idea has long since been proved a fallacy, and of late years 
several writers, Avhose descrij)tions, however, differ considerably, have given their observations concerning this 
singular operation. So many sportsmen and naturalists have recorded their opinions on this subject with such 
assurance, that it is some slight consolation to learn that I am not the first observer who has failed to thoroughly 
comprehend this remarkable performance. The following occurs in Thompson’s ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ 
Birds, vol. ii. p. 253 ; after giving a considerable amount of information gained from the keeper at Tollymore 
Park, county Dow n, the author proceeds to state, wdth reference to this man : — “ The keeper believed himself, 
to have wdtnessed the old hen carrying off her young when suddenly disturbed. Under the impression of his 
having been deceived in this matter, he several times follow^ed hens apparently thus burthened to where they 
alighted, and saw them run off wdtliout any young birds being there. It is, he says, ‘ the body behind the wings, 
the tail, legs, and feathers of the belly, that she droops dowm in a peculiar manner, that gives the appearance 
of a young bird being clutched up. He has several times been quite near to birds presenting the appearance here 
described.” My own experience on one occasion in Ross-shire, in June.1869, was almost identical. A Woodcock, 
whose singular flight attracted attention, leading to the belief that she carried a young one, was marked down, 
and on reaching the spot a few moments later no signs of the juvenile could be discovered; well knowing it was 
quite possible that a young Woodcock might escape detection by human eyes, a retriever accustomed to" search 
out downy nestlings was w^orked over the ground, but without success. 
In Sussex, Perthshire, and Ross-shire I have had many opportunities of w'atcliing the curious evening 
flight of the old birds; in the two latter counties also the fact that the young w'ere lifted and borne off on wdng 
appeared on several occasions unquestionable. Being forced, how^ever, to confess that I am unable to speak 
with certainty as to the manner in which the juvenile is grasped, the result of my observations (considering^ the 
time and labour expended) is far from satisfactory. 
In a wooded ravine on the hill of Tarlogie, near Tain, a Woodcock (as far as I was able to judge) was twice 
seen in the act of^ conveying its young. The following extracts from my notes of June 1869 may 
afford some explanation as to the difficulty of ascertaining accurately the manner in which the young one 
IS carried or (as some observers are inclined to believe) whether the whole idea does not arise °froni 
misapprehension caused by the excited actions of the bird while endeavouring to draw the attention of 
intruders from its brood. 
While descending the hill towards the coast late one evening, after a hot and sultry day, our course 
lay through a thicket of birch, fir, and alder; though the timber w^as by no means lofty, the cover was dense, a 
deep shade being thrown into the gully. This sloping hill-side was admirably adapted for affording concealment 
to young birds— tufts of coarse grass sprung up on all sides, while here and there dead leaves were blown 
together in masses among the twining plants and brambles; a few patches of green moss also showed 
conspicuously in the course of a tiny streamlet, down which moisture drained from above. Having paused for a 
few moments to listen to the jarring of the countless Night-Hawks just commencing their evening concert, a 
retriever, hitherto following closely at heel, drew slowly ahead, and, watching her actions, I became aware that 
game of some sort was before us. The ground immediately in front dropped abruptly for ten or twelve feet— so 
