256 
SCOLOPACIDtE. 
scribes it to be such that he cannot get his gun upon them,” — in other 
words, the velocity is so great, as to prevent his taking aim. 
For the last century, woodcocks have been noticed as occasionally 
breeding in England ; but the instances recorded were very few in 
number until of late years. Particular instances of their breeding in 
Scotland were published in 1832, and many subsequently. 
In a communication made by Mr. Selby in 1837, to the ' Magazine 
of Zoology and Botany,’ on “ the woodcock breeding in Scotland,” it 
is asked, “ What reason is to be assigned for this change in their 
habits ? Is it to be attributed to a change in our seasons, or are we 
to look for it in the great increase of woods or plantations so general 
over all the island, affording these birds additional and secure retreats, 
as well as an abundant and constant supply of food ? ” vol. i. p. 201. 
Sir Wm. Jardine (in 1842) attributes the apparently much-increased 
instances of the birds breeding in Great Britain to the great attention 
which has recently been paid to ornithology, and to such facts being 
recorded, as he cannot perceive any change in the country to induce 
the birds to remain more frequently now than formerly.* 
In the county of Down, Ireland, however, they certainly have much 
increased, though gradually, since my attention was directed to the 
subject in 1836. This cannot, I conceive, be accounted for by either 
cause put hypothetically by Mr. Selby. There was always, as it 
appears to me, abundance of plantations in the three kingdoms suited 
to the nesting of the woodcock, and the change of seasons, or more 
equable climate of late years would render the country the more unlike 
what the bird had been accustomed to — the summer of northern and 
the winter of temperate Europe. 
That their remaining to breed originated from wounded birds unable 
to undertake the vernal migration seems to me the most untenable of 
all reasons which have been assigned, inasmuch as the same cause 
existed at all times. Why should the number of wounded birds have 
been greater over the British Islands generally of late years than at 
any former period ? Did om* sportsmen become at once more nume- 
rous, and them aim less sure ? Of what avail are all the appliances 
and means ” of modern “ warfare,” as the patent cartridge, patent 
wadding, and percussion caps, if more wounded and unbagged birds 
are left behind than formerly ! 
* ‘Brit. Birds/ vol. iii. p. 171. 
