254 
SCOLOPACID^. 
The birds bred in this park are believed to remain constantly in or 
about it ; no diminution of numbers, as in some of the Scottish woods, 
having been observed between the time that the young are able to 
migrate and the first flight arrives from the north of Europe. On the 
evening of the 19th of September (1849), when the letter containing 
these observations was written to me, several birds were seen, as they are 
daily at all times. In August or September they begin to alter their 
summer evening excursions, and take more to their winter habit of 
visiting the marshes. They become quite silent, and if not sprung in 
the woods, are seen only in the twilight or by night. The keeper has 
imagined that he knew the native birds when shot during the winter, by 
their being a little smaller in size, and lighter in colour, than the migra- 
tory ones ; — an opinion in which two sportsmen whom he attended last ^ 
season were disposed to coincide. Eor the first week of woodcock 
shooting, the birds were very plentiful and all of the light colour, while 
afterwards the larger and darker-coloured birds made their appearance. 
On visiting Tolly more Park (accompanied by Mr. K. Ball), at the 
end of September 1849, I saw a nest formed chiefly of furze or whins 
of which there is a considerable quantity ; the other component mate- 
rial being the twigs of larch-fir. This nest, on account of the singular 
substance of which it is composed, was carefully preserved, and with its 
four eggs is kept as a curiosity in Lord Boden’s study. The site of a 
nest within twenty yards of the keeper’s house was pointed out ; it is 
placed on a gently sloping bank, from which some noble beech and 
other ornamental trees arise. The ground was hollowed out for this nest, 
and a large number of beech-leaves used in its construction ; ivy trailed 
on the bank around, and woodbine arched itself lightly and grace- 
fully over it. In such places are many of the nests; none having 
ev.er been found among brambles (“briars”) or elose cover of any 
kind. They are instead, in rather open places within the covers, and 
always on dry ground, the opposite of that on which the birds obtain 
their food. They are found at all kinds of elevation, from the base of 
perish unless the old ones managed to carry them to some more favom’able feeding- 
ground. 
“ Nor is the food of the woodcock of such a nature that it could be taken to the 
young from the swamps in any sufficient quantity. Neither could the old birds bring 
with it the moisture which is necessary for the subsistence of all birds of this kind. 
In fact they have no means of feeding their young except by can-ying them to their 
food, for they cannot carry their food to them.” — ‘ Tour in Sutherlandshire,’ &c. 
vol. ii. p. 164-166. 
